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THE UNIVERSITY OF
NORTH CAROLINA
LIBRARY
THE WILMER COLLECTION
OF CIVIL WAR NOVELS
PRESENTED BY
RICHARD H. WILMER, JR.
^ILMJER COLLECTION
Digitized by the Internet Archive ►
in 2010 with funding from
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
http://www.archive.org/details/stringtownonpikeOOIIoy
CfHE ^vas as bright as a ivilJ red rose ;
^ She ^vas as fair as a lily that groRus
In Palestine '
Stringto wn
On the Pike
A Tale of Northernmost Kentucky
By
John Uri Lloyd
Author of ** Etidorhpa," etc.
\
With Illustrations
New York
Dodd, Mead and Company
1900
Copyright, igoo
By DoDD, Mead and Company
All rights reser'ved
UNIVERSITY PRESS JOHN WILSON
AND SON • CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.
Contents
Page
Stringtown on the Pike i
Chapter
I. The Vision in the Moonlight 4
II. Cupe's Story and the Omen 12
III. The Lost Deed 24
IV. The "Corn Bug" curses the Parson . . 31
V. Judge Elford's Decision 35
VI. The Dilemma of the <' Corn Bug "... 41
VII. <'The Best of the Devil and the Law too" 48
VIII. The Story of the Colonel 53
IX. The Story of the Parson . . ... 66
X. The Fearful Storm of New Year's Eve, 1863 76
XI. Into the Storm passed the Minister ... 81
XII. " Look out fo' the Red-Head Boy "... 90
XIII. The Arrest of Cupe 94
XIV. Court Day . 99
XV. Stringtown Jail 103
XVI. Cupe in Jail 108
XVII. " Too slow fo' a Coon an' too fast fo' a
Possum " 116
XVIII. The Trial of Cupe 120
XIX. The Right of Clergy 130
XX. Judge Elford ... = ,. 137
iii
603015
Contents
Chapter Page
XXI. Why the Honey Bee don't suck Red
Clover 140
XXII. '< God made de Sign " 149
XXIII. Susie is Lost 153
XXIV. Cupe's Advice to his Dog 156
XXV. The Haunted Hollow 159
XXVI. Despondent Stringtown 170
XXVII. "Red-Head" 173
XXVIII. Spirits 182
XXIX. Cupe's Story of the Past . . . : . 185
XXX. CupE purchases his Wife 195
XXXI. "A Fearful Sign" 200
XXXII. The Spirits affect Dinah 204
XXXIII. Old Jew Mose and Sammy Drew . . . 210
XXXIV. The Village Circle of Stringtown . . 213
XXXV. The Love-Song of the Rebel Soldier . 217
XXXVI. "Dinah, Cupe mus' leave de Cabin" . 222
XXXVII. Red-Head, Captive 228
XXXVIII. Return of the Refugees 232
XXXIX. Cupe's Plea for Susie's Name .... 236
XL. The Fearful African Ordeal Test . . 246
XLI. The Stringtown School 252
XLII. Susie's Introduction to the Stringtown
School 257
XLIII. The Challenge of Red-Head .... 261
XLIV. Red-Head's Story of the Feud . . . 265
XLV. "Tell me, Jennie, tell me what it is" 274
XLVI. " Strange Sensation that, the Begin-
ning of Love" . 279
iv
Contents
Chapter Page
XLVII. The Voice of the Night 284
XLVIII. The Weird Form against the Sky . . . 289
XLIX. Susie, Red-Head, and Samuel Drew . . . 293
L. Cupe's Threat 301
LI. The Magic Mirror 306
LII. My Second Journey over a Path I never
YET had Trod 318
LIII. "Never, unless Duty Calls, shall I return
TO Stringtown" 324
LIV. Farewell to Susie 329
LV. Professor Samuel Drew ....... 333
LVI. The Stringtown Poison Case 337
LVIl. Susie Pleads for Red-Head 341
LVin. "Pow'ful Interestin' Story" (i John, Hi.). 351
LIX. "More lives than one must go if Red-
Head dies " 359
LX. Trouble in Stringtown County Court . 361
LXI. Susie, Red-Head, and Myself Again . . . 366
LXII. "The Feud is over, Holcomb" .... 371
LXni. A Strange Love-Story 382
LXIV. "I came to say Farewell" 390
LXV. "You have fought and I have loved" . 395
LXVL "To WHAT has Ambition led?". . . . 405
LXVn. The Music and the Voice die out forever 409
Illustrations
Susie. Dranjon by Corinne C. Trimble Frontispiece
" She was as bright as a wild red rose ;
She was as fair as a lily that grows
In Palestine."
Page
Bloody Hollow. " In this silent dell I now lay alone " . 6
The Strlngtown Grocery where the Village Circle met . . 54
The abandoned Stringtown Schoolhouse n 6
" Where once stood a battery of brass field guns " . . . 234
" I bade all my Stringtown friends good-bye " . . . • 2S6
" I love the dust of that old pike " .... ... 362
" Where cluster others who live to love, and pray and die in
Nazareth" 402
*^* The Kentucky photographic scenes are by
Mrs. John Uri Lloyd
Stringtown on the Pike
¥-
MY name is Samuel Drew, and I am now professor
of chemistry in the University on the Hill. When
I think of my boyhood, memories of the Kentucky pike
arise, and I recall the experiences of Sammy Drew, a
barefooted child. The boy who, in August's heat, be-
tween noonday and mid-afternoon, dared to walk bare-
footed upon that road, raised his feet quickly. I know
whereof I speak, for I often relieved my blistering soles
by slipping aside into the weed-lined by-paths, preferring
them, even if they passed near the honey-locust tree,
under which danger lurked in the great brown thorns
that always menace the barefooted boy of Kentucky.
That pike is yet vivid to memory. Again I see the dust
of bygone times. Again the sun's fierce rays force mc
to greater laziness. Often I seek a shade tree at the
roadside, there to find the grassy brink of a grateful
spring and, leaning over the sward, bury my face in the
hard limestone water, drinking deep and long. Then,
thoroughly content, I sit on the overhanging sod in the
shadow of the tree, and spatter the cool water with my
toes, bathing a stone-bruise in the very fount from which
I drank. With nose-tip close to the water's surface, I
eye the flitting cloud shadows, scan the reflected tan-
freckled face, and watch the water-bugs and crawfish as.
deep in the limpid pool, they stir the sand in the vein's
I I
Stringtown on the Pike
mouth. Finally I turn upon my back and gaze into
space, dreaming of nothing, thinking of nothing.
From earliest school-days chemistry excited my keen-
est interest. When but a child I sat absorbed during
the experiments made by the teacher while he instructed
the advanced class — the class in chemistry — of our
country school. By chance I finally obtained a copy of
" Comstock's Chemistry," and day by day kept abreast
with the students who recited in that subtle science.
Either luck or fate made a chemist of me, — luck, be-
cause the subject chanced to be taught in my room ; or
fate, because " what is to be will be." I could not carry
a rule in " Brown's Grammar " from one day to another,
and I still detest the word " grammar " because of those
twenty-six artificial rules. If I committed to memory
some portions of history, in a week thereafter I mixed
the incidents, unless they were connected with something
of chemical significance. I could not have remembered
from day to day whether Gustavus Adolphus fought in
the War of the Roses or conducted the Thirty Years'
conflict. Of everything but chemistry my head seemed
vacant. All else slipped through as a wind-struck fog
flies through a leafless woodland. The result was that,
though other subjects filtered out of my brain as through
a sieve, chemistry remained securely caught by the mind
meshes. I should add, however, that historical events
connected with the enticing science remained, as, under
similar conditions, did mathematical signs and formulae.
Chemistiy served as a nucleus of attachment. My one-
sided mind caught the chemistry of a subject and bound
thereto or blended therewith all connected matters, as
alcohol blends ether and water. The teacher scolded
me often in the kindness of severity for my indifference
2
Stringtown on the Pike
to other subjects. I was one of the blockheads ; at least
he seemed to regard me as such, not appearing to know
anything of my one talent. The little boys of my row
each learned something concerning everything, as do all
mediocre brains, and one by one passed beyond me; and
I, in humiliation, sat conspicuous among younger chil-
dren, absorbed in the one unreached study that was des-
tined in after years to wreck my life. Chemistry !
Would to God I could blot out the word !
CHAPTER I
THE VISION IN THE MOONLIGHT
RETURNING unexpectedly to my little home one
Saturday afternoon, I found Professor Drake, the
village school-teacher, in conversation with my mother.
Before my presence was noticed — for, being barefooted,
my step was noiseless — I caught the fragment of a sen-
tence : " It is painful to be forced to tell a mother these
facts about her son, but duty compels me to say that I
despair of teaching him." Then seeing me, he paused
and said something about continuing the subject at an-
other time. Slow as I was in some respects, his words
needed no interpretation. My cheek burned in humili-
ation, my heart beat violently ; for it is not pleasant to
one mentally incapacitated to hear the fact stated, and,
less still, for one who loved his mother as intensely as I
did, to realise that the most painful part of her life of de-
voted privation was small in comparison with the distress
that resulted from my stupidity. I was indignant, and
felt tempted to return and upbraid the teacher, for were
not his words the immediate cause of my mother's sor-
row ? Her face was expressive of despair. But the
facts were on the pedagogue's side ; and, moreover, I
appreciated that he, too, grieved over my misfortune.
I fled from the house and aimlessly moved on, medi-
tating, miserable. I climbed the back fence into the
4
The Vision in the Moonlight
woodland pasture, upon which our little garden jutted,
and after crossing it wandered away from Stringtown, I
cared not whither. An hour passed, and my anger and
mortification subsided. I ceased to think of the inci-
dent ; indeed, no record remained to remind my now
dormant intellect of the fact that I existed. My mind
had become as unconscious of all external things as it
was of inherent emotions. My limbs moved irrespon-
sively and my body automatically passed along. I
fancy that I had assumed the condition of a brute of
the lower class or a creature like the turtle, the differ-
ence being that in my brain an intellectual spark rested,
and through it the drowsy I of self could be excited into
consciousness, while the lethargic mind of the turtle
rests irredeemably in the unreachable shadows without.
The great distinction between man and brute is that
man knows he is man, and the brute knows nothing of
himself. I existed and was awake, it is true, but in this
trance that possessed me knew nothing of external
things.
The sun sank slowly toward the distant tree-tops,
and still I wandered without method. The village dis-
appeared behind me, but, regardless of my whereabouts,
I strolled dreamfully along until at last I stumbled over
an inequality in the grass. And as the flash shoots
upward when a spark touches a fibre of gun-cotton, so
the sudden fall caused my mind to dart back into self-
consciousness. The instant I fell I became aware of
the fact that never before had I ventured into the
present locality. I next observed a shadow that the
sinking sun seemed to throw toward me. A long
shadow upon the hill behind which he was disappearing,
stretching toward me, took the form of a gigantic cross,
the apex reaching to and touching the mound beside me.
Stringtown on the Pike
This did not, at the instant, cause me the least concern;
a shadow is but a shadow. I raised my eyes to seek
the object that broke the ray of sunshine, and, child that
I was, marvelled then at the miracle ; for smooth, as if
planed by hand, the top of the hill stretched across my
field of vision ; there was no intervening object between
the sun and me. The face of the day king, unmarked
by tree or shrub, shone clear and untarnished over a
horizontal ridge-summit that was fenceless, objectless,
as straight as a ruler. Stretching down the barren hill-
side, came those rays straight into my face ; and down
that smooth hillside projected toward me, as if it had an
intent in thus pointing at myself, the great grey shadow
lay sharp, and as still as if carved in stone — an effect
without a cause — and just beyond its tip I lay trembling.
I now realised fully my location. He who heeded
not the warning to avoid that spot bred trouble for his
future. Never before had village boy dared to press the
grass where I reclined. Never before had child beheld
either sunshine or shadow from the place I occupied, —
a spot, it was said, the Indians shunned because of its
evil influence on him involved in its occult mazes. In
the tradition of the early settlers an Indian maiden had
here met a tragic death ; and we knew that it was here
that the father of the " Corn Bug " (so nicknamed be-
cause of his propensity for the juice of the corn) had
been murdered. In mature life no intelligent person
believes ghost stories or these absurd Indian traditions ;
tales that cluster around every precinct of our land and
find resting place in the minds of children and of ignorant
people. But to us children, and to the negroes with
whom we were so intimate, that place was accursed, and
would so have been held by us, even in the face of any
testimony to the contrary. Although the soil was rich,
6
m
cq
The Vision in the Moonlight
bushes of sassafras and persimmons — God's emissaries
for worn-out grounds too poor for other plant existence
— refused to grow on or near the spot. In this
silent dell of the " dark and bloody ground," that
from a distance we children, venturing cautiously,
had once timidly approached, whisperingly pointed to,
and then, huddled together, ran from as if from Satan,
I now lay alone. My heart throbbed and thumped,
my flesh quivered at I knew not what, my limbs
refused to move ; and the face of the great sun, clear
as crystal and bright as molten silver, sank slowly
in the west. Simultaneously the weird earth shadow,
that singular grey cross, fell slowly toward me. I
watched it lengthen until the distended arms crept over
my form and enveloped me, and then a quivering play
of changing sunset-lights spread about the sky, amid
which at last the upper rim of the sun disappeared, the
rays flickered ; yet, strangely enough, before twilight
deepened darkness fell upon me. Whether the shadow
to which I refer was an object from the material or out-
side part of life that appeared to my real eyesight, or a
shade from the inner circle that impressed my percep-
tive faculties, I shall not presume to say ; the reader
may form his own conclusions concerning the cause of
the phenomenon. I report only what I witnessed ; and
I yet recall vividly the spectral outline of this weird,
strange shadow, stretching without discernible cause
down the long, barren hillside. I remember that as I
lay prostrate on the lone tomb, gazing at the approach-
ing umbra, I wondered first if it would reach my feet,
and then, as its apex passed over them, if its great arms
would engulf me. I remember to have given a sigh of
relief as the last vestige of the sun was about to disap-
pear j for I had unconsciously accepted, without think-
7
Stringtown on the Pike
ing it out, that should the arms of the grey cross reach
my body, my Hfe would end with the sinking of the sun
and the lengthening of the shadow. Then I recollect
that as the upper rim of the crescent sun sank and
passed from view, and the final slanting rays bent
themselves and streamed upward, the arms of the
cross at the same instant passed over my body, — and
I recollect nothing more. How long I lay in the dew
of the blue grass I cannot say, but when I regained
consciousness it was as if I were awakening from a
dream.
It seemed as though I had been possessed of a vision,
yet no details remained. I had surely experienced the
knowledge of sweets and sours, sorrow and pain, peace
and distress, but not of things, thoughts, or sights. A
black object, wrapped in black paper, has an existence in
the night, although it cannot be seen ; a fragment of
platinum foil, thrown on a surface of molten silver, has
an existence in the light, yet is not to be seen ; a trans-
parent object in a transparent liquid held between the eye
and the sun /V, and yet is not perceptible to the sight.
Thoughts and experiences of my sleeping self had been
realities, but to my waking self were not real. I had
lived and died, had passed into other realms and back
again, and experiencing all, I yet recollected nothing.
This struck me as more than strange ; but only for an
instant did I think of the occurrence, for I realised im-
mediately that I was not now alone. As yet I had not
opened my eyes ; but as the sleeping child intently
watched becomes restless, stirs before it awakes, so did
I feel the presence of some body or spirit other than
my own.
Cautiously seeking to discover the person gazing at
mCj for my nerves were conscious of that piercing eye,
The Vision in the Moonlight
I raised myself upon my elbow and peered about, to
see standing close behind me an Indian girl, tall, erect,
beautiful. By the light of a full moon I saw her form
clearly, distinctly, and noted that her head was decorated
in gaily coloured feathers, and that her dress was made
of the draped skins of animals. Her bosom was partly
covered, partly bare; her face and bust together, as
I now recall the scene, making a picture that might
serve as an artist's ideal. One hand rested on her side ;
the fourth finger of the other was placed upon her lip, as
if, in the language all nations understand, the language
of signs, she were bidding me be silent ; and thus she
stood, with elbows extended, gazing before her. She
made no movement, and, as one entranced, I lay mo-
tionless at her feet. She seemed to be listening for a
sound, and to fear that I would move or speak ; but I
was powerless and could not move.
Then again I observed a strange phenomenon. The
graceful position her form unconsciously assumed cast a
shadow over the earth, on and up and into the clear sky.
Over the crest of the hill, back toward where the sun
had sunk, the figure of a gigantic cross high in heaven
was uplifted, — a perfect cross. The distended elbows
of the maiden created the two shadow-arms of the weird
cross, and from behind her, shining through her form as
through a haze, I saw the rising moon's face. Marvel-
lous apparition ! The visage of the moon peered at mc
through her very body, and thrust that shadow over the
earth and into space beyond. Strange — I remember to
have thought — strange that when facing the sun I
should have closed my eyes upon a cross upon the earth,
and opened them upon an overlying cross in heaven.
Yet while this query led my wondering thoughts, it did
not surprise me that the girl's form was translucent ;
9
Stringtown on the Pike
neither did it seem remarkable that I heard, in answer to
my mind's words, the reply, —
"Not strange at all. The figure before you was
present while the sun still shone, but such creations are
invisible in the sunlight. She it was who absorbed the
radiance of the sun's rays, and thus permitted the shafts
of darkness behind her to cast back at the sun the skel-
eton of that depleted sun-ray. The shadow observed on
the hillside in the sunlight resulted from the dominating
power of the shade of darkness behind. To mortals the
sun prevails over all else, but to other existences shade is
the reality. She whom you now see is only per-
ceptible when a person occupies the peculiar position,
both of body and mind, that you now enjoy ; not every
one can see what you behold."
My reverie was at this point suddenly interrupted ; a
second shadow crossed the moon's face, and I beheld,
stealthily approaching the girl from behind, an Indian
with uplifted stone axe. I tried to scream, to move, but
could not. The smile on the face of the unsuspecting
girl remained sweetly, wildly beautiful. Behind her
countenance that other face peering through her own —
as if the tracing of a saint were thrown before the picture
of a devil — leered, sinister, desperate, ugly ; and through
both of them the moon was shining. I tried again to
warn her of the danger, but could not break the spell
that bound me ; staring, motionless and powerless, I saw
the uplifted war-axe of the phantom chief sink deep into
the black hair that covered her spectral skull.
Following now a sheep-path along a hillside, now a
corn-row through the field, now a dry creek-bed, I ran.
Whether my course led to the right or the left con-
cerned me not. I only asked to leave that hateful valley
as far behind as my strength would carry me. Could I
lO
The Vision in the Moonlight
have known the way, I would certainly have fled to my
home ; but I sped bewildered, and saw no familiar land-
mark. A sudden rustle of the bushes at my feet caused
my heart to jump, my steps to halt ; a timid rabbit
crossed my path, vanishing in the darkness as quickly as
it had sprung from cover. Again I fled, only to halt, trem-
bling ; an object, black, of mammoth size, of strange
shape, appeared before me, and as I stood transfixed the
monstrous form grew before my eyes, evolved from
nothing. Floating from out the air, it towered to the very
heavens above ; and then as suddenly as it had appeared
did it shrink and assume the familiar form of a black cow.
She advanced along the path upon which I stood, stead-
ily and peaceably, possibly ruminating over subjects too
deep for human cogitation. Quickly it flashed upon my
mind that to trace back the path the cow had trodden
would carry me to the barnyard and the home of her
owner, and acting on the impulse, I fixed my gaze upon
the moonlit ground and steadily walked along that well-
defined cow-path. When next I raised my eyes, the
light of a candle shining through a window gladdened my
sight ; with rapid step I reached an open doorway, and
without knocking or even sounding a cry leaped into
the room. As I made that last spring forward, it seemed
as though unseen hands clutched my coat-sleeves, as
though goblins and ghosts threw themselves upon me, as
though weird arms encircled my form and clutched my
ankles and feet, and as though superhuman things cried
and moaned about me.
II
CHAPTER II
cupe's story and the omen
A DELIGHTFUL sensation came over me as I lay
in security once more among human beings.
Only those who have been through experiences such as
I suffered can appreciate the relief I felt. God help the
coward ! God pity him who, frightened, lies powerless
with consciousness intact. Fright blots out all other
pain ; and he who adds one useless pang to the suffering
of a terrified creature must answer for that despicable act
in the hereafter where sins are expiated.
Exhausted, bleeding, suffering physical pain, and yet
content, I rested upon the floor, mentally taking note
of the surroundings. The room was that of a plain log
house. The floor was very rough, being made of hewn,
split beech logs, the rounded portion down, the edges
roughly jointed together. The furniture was of the
simplest description ; the place was lighted by a single
candle. A girl and a man occupied the cabin, the latter
none other than the " Corn Bug ; " and it was evident
that I had wandered from my course perhaps in a spiral
out and back again, for the valley in which I saw the
strange grey cross was, I well knew, but a short distance
from the rude log house in which I now was sheltered.
The other occupant of the house was to me unknown :
a singular little creature, with great eyes and round face
encircled by wild flowing hair, a curious child who fas-
12
Cupe's Story and the Omen
cinated my gaze despite my pain and terror. The
silence caused by my strange entrance was at length
broken by the " Corn Bug."
" Sammy, what 's the matter ? " he said.
" I am lost," I answered.
" Not while you are here."
" I was scared."
"Wall," he continued slowly, " thare ain't no bars
ner catamounts now ; why did n't yo' lie down beside a
fence er in a briar patch this warm night an' sleep ? "
*' I was too scared."
"What scared yo', sonny ? Thare ain't no varmints
hareabout."
" I saw something terrible."
" What war it ? Tell me what yo' saw."
" I can't," I replied with a shudder.
" Wha' wa' yo' ? "
" In Bloody Hollow."
The look of incredulity passed from his face; he came
at once to my side, raised me from the floor, led me to
his own chair, and seated me by the side of the little girl.
" Cupe," he called out, — " Cupe, yo' lazy nigger, git
up; the boy 't yo' told me about es here."
There was a noise overhead, and then through a hole
in the ceiling appeared two legs, and Cupe began the
descent of the ladder which led to the cubby hole of the
attic.
" What fo' yo' call Cupe, Ma'se ? "
" The boy, Cupe, the boy 't ye said would come from
Bloody Holler. Here es the boy."
The white-headed negro manifested no surprise.
"I done tole yo' so, Ma'se," he said reflectively; *' I
knowed he wah com'n' ; de signs nebbah lie, Ma'se ; de
figgah in de fiah, de hoodoo tracks in de ashes, de tings
13
Stringtown on the Pike
dis nigger saw an' hea'd when de chicken crowed las'
night fo' midnight, tings what de white man doan know
nuffin' 'bout, pinted t' de movin' ob de spell. Ma'se,
tings p'dicted am come. Ole Ma'se, yoah pap, sleep in
Bloody HoUah an' den he died es Cupe said he would ; de
gearl sleep in Bloody Hollah, an' now de boy am heah.
De end ob de spell am nearly come."
" What air yo' talkin' about, yo' black scoundrel ? "
muttered the " Corn Bug."
" Nebbah yo' min', Ma'se, dah ain't no use in bor-
rowin' troub'l ; nebbah yo' min', Ma'se ; de spell will
end fo' yo' when de yeah ends, an' den yo' an' ole Cupe
mus' part."
" Talk sense, Cupe, talk sense ; I told yo' to come
down out ov your loft, not because I want any ov youah
goblin nonsense, nor any ov youah nigger signs, but ter
tie up the scratches on this youngster's feet ; can't yo'
see he es tired an' sore an' scared nearly ter death ?
Move, yo' black rascal, move ! "
Old Cupe, muttering to himself, obeyed ; he washed
and bound up my lacerated feet, having first anointed
them with a sweet-scented soothing ointment made of
the resin of the sweet-gum tree.
" Now for his supper," said the " Corn Bug." " Stir
yourself, Dinah ! "
Then I noticed another form gather itself, as if
it were created from the shadows. From the edge
of the hearth, where, motionless, she had been huddled,
an old black negro crone arose and silently busied her-
self arranging my supper, which proved to be simple
enough, but very sweet to the taste. Then when the
task was done and the dishes had been removed, she
slunk back to the shadows, and in the edge of the light-
flittings, where the seen and the unseen blended, crouched
14
Cupe's Story and the Omen
again on the hearth, clasped her hands around her
ankles, drawing them close to her body, and rested her
chin on her knees. Part of her form was visible in the
firelight, part was blotted out ; and thus she crouched
motionless, silently eyeing me. When I had finished
the meal, Cupe again began talking to the " Corn Bug."
" Ma'se, yo' mus' lis'n t' what Cupe says, case he
means yo' well. Dis nigger hab nuss'd yo' since yo'
wah a little tot ; he hab raised yo', honey. He nebbah
lef yo', chile. When uddah niggers desarted de planta-
tion, Cupe stood by yo', an' yo' knows dat eb'ry bressed
word he ebah tole yo' wah God's trufF. Now lis'n,
Ma'se ; de preachah nebbah spoke mo'ah serous dan
Cupe do now. De signs p'dicted am come. Cupe hab
kept t' hisse'f what ole Ma'se tole him in de ole man-
sion house dat bu'n down ahftah Ma'se wah killed, an'
now de time am come fo' yo' t' know what Cupe hab t'
tell t' yo.' Yo' calls et nigger signs, but lis'n, Ma'se.
Who stuck closer t' yo' all dese yeahs dan dis nigger
hab done ; an' what fo' should Cupe fool yo', Ma'se ?
Now white man an' nigger mus' not try t' circumbent
Prov'dence ; an' de time am come fo' Cupe t' act, case
Cupe am done gwine t' tole yo' sump'n' now what no
man ebah know 'cep'n' Cupe an' de dead folks what caint
talk t' de likes ob yo'. Lis'n t' Cupe's story, Ma'se.
" Ole Ma'se, yoah pap, wah a wile chile. Night-
time come, he wah rac'n' ober de country cotch'n coons,
danc'n' shindigs, gwine ter places wha he nebbah ought
t' had be'n, actin' up in ways dat ole Cupe doan care t'
memberlec', an' doan intend t' memberlec'. Wall, one
mahn'n' in de time ob de yeah when de 'simmons wah
jes git'n' sof an' de 'possum wah git'n' fat an' de co'n
wah bein' shocked, ole Ma'se come home an' say t'
Cupe: ' Cupe, lay in de back logs an' git de mansion in
IS
Stringtown on the Pike
order ; fer on de las' day ob de yeah dah '1 be a wed'n',
an' yo' niggers '11 hab a missus.' 'Fo' de Lawd, dis
nigger wah s'prized. He wah not 'quainte' wid all de
signs den, else he would hab seed de ebil com'n'."
A low chant, melody without words, negro melody
that harmonised strangely with Cupe's pathetic expres-
sions, arose from the lips of the shadow-clad old crone.
Evidently her mind was vibrating in unison with Cupe's
words, and until the chant died away old Cupe stood
silent. Then he resumed : —
" Howsumebbah, Cupe knowed some tings, an' he
say t' ole Ma'se : ' Ma'se, doan bring trouble on yoah
head.' Ole Ma'se ansah ; ' Yo' brack rascal, why cain't
one man marry es well es 'nuddah ? ' ' 'T ain't dat,
Ma'se,' Cupe say: ' de marryin' is all right, else de
good Book would n't say so. It am de time. Nebbah
marry on de las' day ob de yeah, lessen yo' want trouble.
It am a slap in de face ob Prov'dence, Ma'se, Wait
one day longah, Ma'se ; all de niggers 'II tole yo' trouble
come lessen yo' lis'n t' 'vice.'
" ' What a nigger know 'bout Prov'dence ? Damn
yoah nigger nonsense ! ' say ole Ma'se.
" An', suah nufF, when de las' day ob de yeah come,
he did marry Missus Alice, yoah mudder, one ob de
sweetes' creatures. Lawd ! Lawd ! chile, but she wah
a honey ! But all de niggers shake der heads an' slip
away de wed'n' night, an' stan' roun' gloomy-like, an'
whisper t' demsels, an' suah nuff nigger sign come out
right; an' de end ob dat mistake ain't come yet. Nebbah
mo'ah did Ma'se hab any luck. One night de bahn
buhn ; next winter six ob de best niggers done run off t'
Canerdy ; dem fool niggers. Den ole Ma'se gits cross
an' takes powerful strong t' his cups, an' night ahftah
night dat sweet young missus would hab t' sleep in her
i6
Cupe's Story and the Omen
big room wid Aunt Dinah on de flo' by de bed, an' ole
Cupe on de flo' by de doah outside in de hall. An'
missus would cry herse'f t' sleep, an' in de mahn'n
when ole Ma'se come home swearin' an' cross, she,
honey deah, would fro her arms 'roun' his neck an' —
oh ! wall, Ma'se, what 's de use ob 'memb'h'n eb'ryting ? "
" De honey deah, de honey deah!" moaned Dinah;
" bress de sweet chile."
" Shet yoah mouf, Dinah ; dis am no time fo'
blub'rin' niggers," Cupe rudely said ; and then con-
tinued :
" So at las', one stormy night ole Ma'se git on horse-
back an' ride off t' de tab'n, an' dat night yo' come inter
de world, Ma'se honey. Bress de soul ob yoah deah
angel muddah. When de nigger what go fo' ole Ma'se
fin' him, he wah playin' keards at de tab'n an' he cuss
an' swar case de nigger say missus wan' him quick, an'
nebbah a step would he move till mahn'n come ; an' jes
befo' ole Ma'se step in de doah de angels carry de sweet
missus out ob de windah. She lib only a few hours
ahftah she see de face ob her baby chile, Yo' am dat
chile, Ma'se. De doctah know she could n't las', an' he
ax her ef she hab any word t' say befo' she go t'
glory ; an' she say say yes, an' ax fo' Cupe.
" Lawd, Lawd, Ma'se ! dat wah awful hard times.
Cupe take his shoes off, an' tiptoe in de room, an' kneel
down by de bed, an' cry like a baby, an' say very gentle-
like : ' Fo' de Lawd, honey, Cupe ain't t' blame fo' de
troub'l, case he wahne' Ma'se ob de ebil what come ob
marryin' on de las' day ob de yeah.' An' she say, berry
weak-like: 'T ain't dat, Cupe; yo' alls am yinnercent.
What I wan' t' say am 'bout tings wot comes heah-
oftah.' Den she say : * Cupe, when I am gone, dis
little yinnercent babe won't hab no muddah an' de Lawd
17
Stringtown on the Pike
only knows what kind ob a fahdah.' Cupe he keep still
an' make no ansah, fo' what could he say ? an' he only
cry an' cry. Den missus say : ' Cupe, nebbah yo' lebe
dis chile ; nebbah ; promise me dat, Cupe.' An' Cupe
say : ' Fo' de Lawd, missus, I promise.' Den missus
say : ' Cupe, yo' is a nigger, an' all niggers can't do
what dey wants t', but yo' is not a fiel' nigger, yo' is a
fam'ly nigger, an' yo' will nebbah be sold, nebbah.^ An'
nebbah mus' yo' lebe dis chile 'cep'n' it am fo' de good
ob de chile.' An' 1 swar befo' de Lawd t' missus dat
nebbah de weddah shall be too hot, nebbah too cole, t'
keep Cupe from doin' his duty to de new blos'm. An'
den she reach out her han', monstrous weak-like, an'
ole Cupe smuddah it wid kisses, an' keep a kiss'n',
fo' he could n't talk, an' he had n't nuffin' else t' do."
A wail came from the crouching form on the hearth.
A wail that spoke as words could not have done of the
impression Cupe's story was making on the solitary wit-
ness of that night's experience. Old Cupe stopped his
discourse and this time waited patiently until the last
sound died away, then resumed as if there had been no
interruption.
" An' den de doctah, he say : ' Cupe, lay de han' back,
Cupe ; ' an' de doctah go sof'ly t' de doah an' call Aunt
Dinah, who had gone out t' cry, an' he say t' Dinah :
' Take de chile, Dinah ; yo' am now de mammy ; ' an'
den he smoove de cubbahleds an' Cupe say how easy-
like missus go t' sleep when she git de trouble ofF her
min', an' de doctah say : *■ Yes, Cupe, nebbah t' wake.'
An' den ole Cupe look close at de face an' see dat de
deah young missus wah dead. Her sweet spirit had
1 Great distinction was made between family and field slaves.
Family slaves often were free to talk as the master's children were
not permitted to do.
i8
Cupe's Story and the Omen
gone t' glory while ole Cupe kiss de han' ob de missus
what wah.
" An' Cupe moan and cry an' de doctah come an' say,
monstrous sah'ful-Iike : ' Doan yo' know, Cupe, dat she
am happy now ? Dah ain't no swar words, dah ain't
no tab'n, dah ain't no coon dawgs yelpin' all night wha'
she am now.' Cupe say : ' 'T ain't dat, Ma'se Doctah ;
case she am gone t' glory, de Lawd knows she am happy
now ; 't aint dat — but de ebil sign.' ' What ebil sign ? '
say the Doctah , an' Cupe say ; ' Trouble, pile on top
ob trouble ; fo' de deah missus is done gone t' glory an'
Cupe had de han' kiss'n' it like es it wah alibe. No
wussah sign could be. God help the chile, Ma'se Doc-
tah ! God help de blos'm ! ' i An' de doctah could n't
no moah ansah sech argyment dan de preachah kin.
He say, says he : ' Nigger signs air nigger signs.'
" Now Ma'se honey," Cupe said, suddenly addressing
the " Corn Bug," " Ma'se honey, hab Cupe not done
what he promis'd yoah deah muddah ? Hab he ebah lef
yo' ? Hab he not stuck closer t' yo' dan a tick sleep'n'
b'hin' a dawg's ear ? Hab de weddah ebah be'n too hot
er too cole fo' Cupe t' sarve yo' ? Hab yo' ebah got
any sarse words back when yo' cuss ole Cupe ? Ma'se,
yo' know dat ef yo' had done what Cupe wanted, yo'
would hab been well edye'cate' an' a fine gem'n like
Ma'se Manley am. Yo' knows dat ole Cupe trot ahftah
yo' from de day yo' wah a chile until what yo' air now,
an' hab begged an' prayed dat yo' lis'n t' Cupe when
yo' go on de wile track."
" Yes," conceded the " Corn Bug ; " " yes, Cupe,
yo' hev been a good nigger."
" Wall, what fo' Cupe lie now, Ma'se ? What fo'
1 No worse omen could appear than for a chicken or animal of
any kind to die in one's hand. Old Cupe received a fearful stroke
when he held that dying hand.
^ ^ 19
Stringtown on the Pike
Cupe say tings dat am not so ? Lis'n, Ma'se honey ; de
day befo' ole Ma'se wah killed Cupe wahn' him ob de
danger in de air. Ma'se he laff, at first, but Cupe say
t' him, es he say t' yo', ' What fo' should Cupe lie ? '
When ole Ma'se heah dat argyment he lis'n' like an' say
t' Cupe, ' Cupe, life am mighty onsartin'. Nigger sign
er no nigger sign, life am onsartin', an' I guess, Cupe, I
might es well es not tells yo' some tings t' do in case
yoah uddah nigger signs am right ; not dat I b'lebe in
tings yo' talk 'bout ; fo',' says ole Ma'se, says he, ' nig-
gers am 'stish'us.' Den he go on, kindah talkin' to
hisse'f: ' Howsumebbah, niggers am not fools. 'Sides,'
say ole Ma'se, ' yo' is true t' yoah friends, Cupe, an'
dat 's moah dan I can say fo' de white people what sit
on de seat an' play keards 'longside me.' So he git
solium' like, an' say, says he : *■ Cupe, if yoah nigger
sign consahnin' me comes true, an' dey hab monstrous
often come out right, dah air uddah nigger signs what
will come true consahnin' tings heahoftah. Cupe,' Ma'se
say, *■ I hab be'n a fool, Cupe, an' it air too late t' quit.
I hab be'n a fool, Cupe, an' I knows it an' don't keer t'
quit, case et air pleasant-like now t' be a fool. But yo'
hab stuck t' me an' t' de chile, an' de time may come
when yo' will wan' t' be free.' An' den he took a
papah out ob his pocket an' say, says he : ' Dese heah
papahs am all 'cordin' t' law, an' when yo' show dem,
yo' is a free man.'
" Cupe he take de papah, an' try t' t'ank him, but de
Ma'se go on wid de talk an' would n't let him say
nuffin'. ' Keep yoah mouf shet an' doan gib me no
back talk,' he say. ' Dah am jes one ting fo' yo' t' do,
an' dat air t' stick t' de chile.'
" ''Deed I will, Ma'se. I done promise de missus
dat de night de angels come.'
20
Cupe's Story and the Omen
" ' Stick t' de chile, Cupe,' he say. An' den de Ma'se
stop talkin' an' walk ofF.
" So much fo' yoah pap, an' now fo' yoah gran'pap
an' my pap."
" Go on," said the " Corn Bug."
" Wall, yo' knows es well es Cupe, dat ole Ma'se,
yoah pap, wah killed in Bloody Hollah, an' he wah tole
by Cupe dat he would be killed likes he wah, jes es
Cupe tole yo' 'bout dis boy comin' t'-night an' de gearl
com'n' de day dat she did come. Howsumebbah, dat
doan consahn yo' jes now. What I gwine t' say con-
sahns ole Ma'se's fahdah, de fit'n Colonel ; he wah yoah
gran'pap, an' my pap wah his nigger, jes es Cupe air
yoah nigger. An' what pass' between ole Colonel,
yoah gran'pap, an' my pap, yoah fahdah nebbah know'd,
case the sign wah not right an' Cupe could n't speak
widout de sign ; but now de sign p'dicted am heah, an'
Cupe gwine t' tole yo' 'bout what yo' nebbah 'spected
in all yoah bohn days.
" Ole Ma'se's fahdah (yoah gran'pap) say t' Cupe's
fahdah (my pap) long years ago : ' All dese lan's b'longs
t' me; all ober behin' de big woods is mine; all
dis part ob dis country is mine.' Den he took pap
to his iron trunk w'ich he brought from Mexiky
wha' he wah fit'n 'long wid Ma'se Butler, who lib' in
Cah'lton — de chist what nebbah no libbin' soul 'cep'
de ole Ma'se had seen into befo', an' he op'n it an' say,
says he : ' Dese heah papahs am deeds fo' all de lan's
yo' can see if yo' clime de highest tree on de plantation.
Now', says he, ' if dis heah son ob mine doan tuhn out
good — an' he doan promise much, an' Lawd knows I
hain't done much need'h t' make him good — yo' keep
dese papahs till he dies ; den gib 'em to yoah boy, Cupe ;
an' tole him what t' do wid em. He am a fam'ly nig-
21
Stringtown on the Pike
ger an' won't be sol'. But ef my chile act like a man,
yo' can gib him dese papahs an' all dis money.' Wid
dat he showed pap a pile ob gol', sech es I nebbah
'spected t' see in all my bohn days."
" You 're lyin', Cupe, yo' know yo' lie," said the
" Corn Bug." " I hev seen inside yer iron chest, an'
thare ain't no papers nor no gold in et neither."
" Nebbah do yo' min' de chist, Ma'se ; nebbah yo'
min' 'bout de gol'. Yo' don't git none ob dat ; it goes
to de chillun what sleep in Bloody Hollah, case de sign
say so. Now yo' knows, honey," Cupe continued, " yo'
knows, Ma'se honey, dat yo' nebbah hab be'n settled
steady, so dat Cupe could do what ole Ma'se axt. De
bottle am yoah mastah, an' it wah de mastah ob' yoah
pap an' yoah gran'pap, so Cupe hab jes kep' de papahs es
my pap kep' dem ; an' de money an' de papahs hab
been waitin' fo' de sign, an' now de sign am heah."
" What sign, yo' black fool, what sign ? " asked the
" Corn Bug," with an eagerness which showed that he
was more interested in the story than he cared to admit.
*' De sign what folks dat doan b'lebe in signs nebbah
see," Cupe replied ; "• but dese two chillun wah mixed
up in de sign ; Cupe hab done tole yo' dis day, Ma'se,
when de sun wah shinin', dat dis heah boy would come
when de bat flap, an' de owl hoot t'-night, an' dat Bloody
Hollah would mix itse'f a'gin in de consahns ob dis
fam'ly ? "
" Yes," the " Corn Bug " reluctantly admitted.
*' Now lis'n," continued the negro. " Doan temp'
Prov'dence, Ma'se ; dah air tings de preachah doan
know ; tings dat teachahs can't read out ob books ;
tings an ole nigger knows bettah dan book-larned folks.
Dah air tings white men can't teach a nigger ; 'case
nigger sense ain't altogeddah same es white man's sense ;
22
Cupe's Story and the Omen
an' dah air tings a nigger can't splain de how an' whah-
foh ob t' white folks, 'case white folks' sense ain't
'zac'ly like nigger sense. Kin de dawg 'splain how he
cotch de trail ob de coon ? Nced'h am all niggers de
same. S'pose Cupe should try t' show dese half white
niggers, poo' mean trash, what my gran'pap larn from
his ole mammy, who bring dat sense wid her out ob de
hot Gol'coast 1 country, what could Cupe do ? Nuffin'.
Might es well try ter teach white folks es sech niggers.
Ya, ya, ya," he chuckled. "Now, sit still, honey, sit
still, an' Cupe will show yo' sump'n' what '11 s'prize yo'."
^ Gold Coast, the part of Africa Cupe's grandfather came from.
23
CHAPTER III
THE LOST DEED
HE closed and locked the door, then untied the cur-
tain string and lowered the green paper curtains,
and next climbed the ladder that I had seen him descend,
telling me to follow him. He opened the cover of an
iron chest, and, after fumbling about inside it, asked me
to look into its depths. The bottom was covered with
a layer of bright gold coins, of which Cupe took a few
pieces and then secured a large folded paper, yellowed
with age, covered with red seals of wax and tied with a
dull ribbon that once perhaps had been of some bright
colour. Together we descended to the room below,
where Cupe showed the paper and the gold to his
master.
The " Corn Bug " stared in amazement, and was
reaching for the money when Cupe stopped him.
" Yo' can't tech de gol', Ma'se, de gol' am not
fo' yo'."
" Give me the paper," the man impulsively demanded.
" Heah am de dokyments, Ma'se, de papah what ole
Colonel, yoah gran'pap say ter my pap would gib yo-uns
all de lan's yo' can see from de top ob ole Hick'ry."
The white man took the paper turned it about, eyed
it curiously, and then handed it back to Cupe. He
could not read.
"Yo' see, Ma'se," said Cupe, " de sign says dat yo'
wah not t' read dis papah ; it wah to be read by de boy
who saw de sky cross in Bloody Hollah."
24
The Lost Deed
" Here 's the boy," said the " Corn Bug," " but I
hai n't heard him say nuthin' 'bout no sky cross."
Old Cupe turned toward me, and as he did so the ne-
gro crone half rose from her place and leaned partly out
of the shadows.
" Tole us 'bout de sky cross yo' saw," said Cupe.
I shook my head.
" Dah wah a cross in de sky, an' a cross on de earf,
chile ? "
I nodded.
" An' yo' saw de hant ? "
" Yes, yes, I saw it."
"An' mu'd'h'n?"
" Yes, and murdering, too."
" De cross am gone, an' de blood am gone an' dried
dese yeahs dat 's gone, but de hant move on. Back t'
yoah place, Dinah, yo' brack fool ! "
Dinah sank into her former position, and Cupe turned
to his master. " De boy what see de cross am t' read de
papah, hab not Cupe done tole yo' ? An' de boy what
seed de cross am heah."
The " Corn Bug" seemed not to be surprised at the
corroboration I gave of Cupe's prediction. '* Adzacly,"
he said, "adzacly."
I took the document and after laborious study managed
to decipher it. Even then none of us understood more
than the general purport of the paper. But old Cupe
had faith in its authenticity. He exultingly cried, when
I had laboriously spelled out the last word :
"Cupe done tole yo' so, Ma'se; now what yo' got
t' say 'bout de tracks in de ashes, an' de figgah in de
fiah, an' de uddah tings what Cupe saw, an' yo' couldn' t
understan' an' will nebbah know how he saw dem ?"
" Why did n't yo' give me that paper long ago ?"
2$
Stringtown on the Pike
demanded the " Corn Bug." " Where hev yo' kept
these things ? I hev seen inside thet empty old chest
often."
'' Take care, honey, take care ; doan ax quistions too
libely ; 't ain't safe t' fool wid dese heah solium' tings
like white folks does wid book readin'." Then Cupe,
growing more serious, added :
" Ma'se when de new yeah come yo' an' Cupe '11 part.
Dese chillun air t' take yoah place, Ma'se, fo' yo' 11 go
t' yoah long home. Dat ting am sart'n, Ma'se, de long
home am suah t' come. Cupe measure' de cedah limbs
ag'in t'-day, an' de young sprout on de long limb stan'
six feet from de body ob de tree. Dah am room fo' a
coffin undah dat limb suah, an' yo' know yo' wah de
man what sot out dat cedah tree." ^
" Yes, an' will plant another next spring."
" Plant'n' will be done in de new yeah, an' yo' will be
dah, but yo' won't hole de spade, an' it won't be a tree
what 's planted. Hab not Cupe done tole yo' ob what 's
suah t' come t' de man what set out a cedah ? Ma'se,
when de robins flock nauth t' de roost in de thicket
nex' March an' talk in de gloom ob ebenin', yoah ear
won't heah de chirpin' voices ; when de sugah watah
drips in de Feb'uary sunshine, yo' tongue won't taste de
sweetness ob de sap, an' yoah eye won't see de bright-
ness ob de sun ; an' when de wahm wind blow an' de
snow melt in de spring, yoah cheek won't feel de breff
dat come out ob de souff."
" Ef I lis'n' to yo', Cupe, I would stop breathin' in
order to save my life. Yo' hev a sign fer everything."
" Suah yo' will stop breevin' 'case de dawg Dgawge
1 The negroes believed that death would come to the man who
transplanted a cedar tree, when the lower limbs grew to be the length
of his coffin.
26
The Lost Deed
Wash'n't'n see yoah hant an' de cedah limb on de tree
yo' sot am long nufF t' cubah a coffin. De tree am
ready, de groun' am ready, an' de spade am waitin' in de
shed. But dah am mo'ah t' say t' yo', fo' de uddah sign
say dat ole Cupe, who nebbah desahted yo' in life, won't
be by yo' side when de las' call am made. Yo' will hab
comp'ny, Ma'se, comp'ny heah when yo' start, an' com-
p'ny on de way dahabouts. Cupe doan 'tend t' say jes
wha' yo' air gwine, er how long de new partner '11 stick
t' yo' an' de sign doan say wheddah de landin' place am
hot er cole. But when yoah heaht am still an' de mouf
am shet tight, de eyes am closed ahftah de silver qua'tahs
am taken off, de heels air close t'geddah, an' de toes
p'int up, when de cubbah ob de box am screwed down,
ole Cupe '11 be back by yoah side a'gin. An' when yo'
air laid in de groun' undah de cedah tree yo' planted,
close beside yo' deah muddah, who rest undah de limb ob
de weepin' wilier, an' who go t' glory when yo' wah
bohn, ole Cupe '11 be dah. Bettah yo' begin t' git ready
fo' dem tings what is p'dicted an' bettah yo' make yo'-
se'f good wid de pahson, 'case de pahson am might'ly
mixed in yoah affairs, Ma'se, an' dese chillun am mixed
too. De signs wahn't quite clear when Cupe read dem
dat night, dah wah shaddahs, but de omen on the harf
done mix de affairs ob yo' an' de pahson. Doan yo'
know, Ma'se, dat when yo' fin' dis baby gearl on de
Bloody Hollah grabe dat ole Cupe say take her home an'
her mate '11 follah 'case de sign say so ? an' hab yo' not
done growl an' cuss ole Cupe an' chss de sign, ah, doan
yo' lub de chile now like she wah yo' own, honey ? an'
ain't de boy heah now ? "
" Nigger nonsense," said the " Corn Bug."
" 'T ain't safe t' 'fy solium' tings ; bettah shake ban's
wid de pahson, Ma'se ; nebbah min' de nigger nonsense,
27
Stringtown on the Pike
make fren's wid de pahson, case dah come a time when
de pahson skeah off de fiah bran' an' keep off de debbil
too."
'' I 've no use fer Pahson Jones er his mummery.
When next I see the pahson, I 'II show yo' how I make
friends with his likes."
" De signs am, Ma'se," continued Cupe, heedless of
his master's scoffing, " dat Cupe '11 stay in de cabin
ahftah yo' am gone ; de gearl '11 stay, an' de boy '11 come
ag'in."
He stopped, went to the fire, and gazed intently into
the mouldering embers, then slowly said : " De boy '11
come ag'in t' de cabin in de night-time. De sun am
shinin' on both dere heads, but a cloud am risin'. De
boy am gone, but bress de Lawd, honey, Cupe am still
heah wid de gearl."
Then after a pause he stirred the ashes, smoothed
them out, moved his fingers over the surface, seeming
to read from the embers as one reads from a book.
" De gearl am in trouble an' go from de cabin ; she
go' t' de boy; it am in a big house; she kneel on de
flo' befo' de boy an' de boy cubbahs his face wid his
ban's an' shakes his head." With a puzzled look the
negro began mumbling unintelligibly, made another little
pile of ashes and flattened it out, then spoke again :
" De gearl wid bended head an' tear mark on de
cheek come slowly back t' de cabin, dis same cabin,
lookin' behin' her to'ards de boy. De boy am in a
cu'yus place, wid glass fixin's an' bottles all 'roun' de
room ; but he am sah'erin' too an' am lookin' back
to'ards de gearl. Dey am not chillun now ; he am a
man, an' she am as pretty es a peach. Lawd, Lawd,
honey ; but Cupe am still wid her. She am monstrous
sah'ful, an' her eyelids am swelled ; she come back t' de
28
The Lost Deed
cabin an' cry an' moan, an' t'row her arms 'roun' ole
brack Cupe's neck, an' den she an' Cupe go up t' de
mount'ns. Bress yoah soul, chile ; bress yoah soul,
honey ; God bress yo', honey ; God bress yo' ! "
Ole Cupe arose and picked up the child, hugged her
to his bosom and stroked her dishevelled hair with his
bony fingers, before he returned to his incantations.
Another period of mummery with the ashes and Cupe
laughed aloud: "De clouds am gone, an' de sun shine,
but it shines fru brush. De chillun am t'geddah in de
ole Kaintuck Ian'. T'ank de Lawd, Ma'se ! " ex-
claimed the old negro, then suddenly he drew back and
stared into the embers, saying to himself: "What's de
meanin' ob dis ? Smoove dem ashes out, Dinah, 'case
sump'n' am wrong wid de sign." Suiting her actions to
his words, Dinah leaned over and smoothed the ashes
with her long, bony fingers, then sat m the shadows,
swaying her body back and forth, humming a soft, low
song, without words. I crept timidly forward, and
gazed over the shoulder of the kneeling seer. I saw
that he took three short bits of brown straw and laid
them parallel on the perfectly smooth ash surface, the
fragments being about three inches apart. " Dah am a
new face stan'in wha' de boy stood, it air a boy wid a
red head. Dis am de newcomah, de red-head boy," he
said, pointing to one straw •, " dis am de boy out ob
Bloody HoUah," pointing to the second straw ; " dis am
de honey gearl," pointing to the third. Then, as he
spoke, it seems to me that I saw a marvellous thing : —
that a perfect coffin-like tracing form crept about the
straw of the newcomer, and then that straw caught fire.
Old Cupe chuckled, pointing to the straw which repre-
sented myself. After a lapse of some minutes this also
became surrounded by a similar mark that grew before
29
Stringtown on the Pike
my eyes ; then it began to burn, and almost simulta-
neously the last straw, that representing the girl, turned
black, then changed into white ashes, snow-white ashes,
but I swear it did not burn. Old Cupe threw himself
upon the floor and moaned in apparent distress. He
did not interpret the result of his incantation other than
by this emotion, but quickly arose, and took me by the
hand : " Chile," he said, " yo '11 sleep in de bed upstairs,
an' Cupe '11 sleep on de flo' by yoah side. Come, chile,
it am late in de night, come."
I was too much exhausted to do anything but sleep,
yet that night I dreamed. It seemed to me that once I
opened my eyes to find old Cupe standing by my bed
in the light of the moon that streamed through the little
window, mumbling to himself, moving his bony fingers
over and near my face as he had done over and near the
ashes, and I caught the words : " Cupe bettah strangle
de life out ob him now ; but cussed am de pusson who
breaks de workin's ob de spell." Next morning I
was awakened early by a searcher, for the country had
been aroused over my absence, and when I reached my
home and was folded in the arms of my mother the in-
fluence of the night's strange incidents disappeared.
30
CHAPTER IV
THE "CORN bug" CURSES THE PARSON
I HAVE now to record a memorable meeting of the
village circle which formed about the stove in the
country store, during which the " Corn Bug " created a
sensation. Without apparent provocation, he indulged
in a tirade against the Rev. Mr. Jones, and instead of
making friends with that gentleman, as old Cupe had
advised, would have driven him from the room had not
Professor Drake interfered. The assembled villagers
were astounded by his violence. The minister had in-
curred his dislike by an attempt to reform his dissolute
habits, an attempt that unfortunately resulted in arous-
ing the wrath of the person whom he aimed to serve.
The " Corn Bug " from that moment adhered to a
dogged determination to drink more freely. This even-
ing he seemed unusually vindictive, and without any
direct incentive viciously assailed the pastor.
" Sech people as yo', pahson, air like drone bees,
always ready ter make a show ov yerselves, but never
ready ter work. Yo' eats the best the land raises, yo'
talks ter the prittiest girls, an' sits beside them too ; yo'
wears the best clothes, yo' rests in the shade in the
summer an' loafs by the stove in the winter. Yo' wears
kid gloves like a woman, an' preaches 'bout duty, but
never acts et 'less takin' care ov your own carcass es
actin' duty. Yo' air never cold lessen yo' lies in bed
too late ov a winter mornin' an' gits yer muscles stiff
31
Stringtown on the Pike
because yo' air too lazy ter git up an' make the blood
move ; an' yo' never gits hot except when goin' through
the sunshine in the summer from the shade ov a tree ter
yer dinner. Yo' Methodists air es afraid ov water es a
mad dog, an' would never save a soul ef, in order ter do
so, yo' had ter wet yer feet in ice water, when you 'd
let the other feller's one soul go an' save yer own two
soles. Pshaw ! I hev seen Hard Shell Baptists an'
Campbellites break the ice at a baptisin' an' walk right
inter a pond ov ice water a mile away from a fire ; an'
yet yo' stands by a stove an' dips the tips ov yer fingers
in warm water an' sprinkles et over a baby an' calls thet
' workin' in the Master's field.'
" Yo' would n't laze around all the week, an' eat an'
sleep an' sleep an' eat, ef yo' was n't too lazy ter work
like a man should work," he continued, growing more
insulting as he proceeded : " Yo' would n't take what I
am a-givin' yo', either, if yo' had the spunk ov a sick
rabbit er the energy ov a sleepin' 'possum. Yo' would n't
cross the street in a shower ter save a dyin' child, an'
yo' would n't dare crack yer finger in the face ov a
turtle-dove fer fear yo' might get pecked."
Professor Drake arose and indignantly demanded
order. The pastor had listened in silence, making no
response, but it could be seen that his passions were
much moved and that he was holding himself in check
only by strenuous effort.
" One duty of gospel ministers," he replied rather
sadly as the echoes of the insulting voice of the " Corn
Bug " died away, " is to teach tolerance and practise
forgiveness. God knows it would be easier to strike
now than to keep down my anger ; but how can we
follow the Master we serve, and not forgive those who
wrong us ? How can we ask others to heed our words
32
The "Corn Bug" curses the Parson
unless we set an example ? No doubt, my friends,
ministers frequently err. Yes, my hearers, yes, minis-
ters are often to be blamed for errors of judgment or for
self-indulgence. They are not always the bright ex-
amples in holy living they should be. Perhaps they live
in too great luxury ; perhaps they have too many
pleasures ; perhaps they are not willing to undergo
privations as they should. My friend," he continued,
turning towards his adversary, " I thank you for this
lesson, over which I shall ponder, and by which I shall
endeavour to profit ; and if ever it chances that I can
return to you the kindness you have shown me in this
view you have given me of myself, if you ever have
need of my services in an extremity, you will find that I
shall not hesitate to wet my feet in your behalf. Neither
shower, snow, nor storm, neither heat, cold, nor darkness
shall keep me from my duty in the future, if they have
ever done so in the past."
Was it chance, or was it a link in the "spell," that
caused the door to open just before the speaker pro-
nounced the last sentence ? Old Cupe, with uncovered
head, his white wool and beard contrasting strongly with
his shiny black face, stepped into the room, stood before
the minister and said :
" When de yeah goes out be ready, pahson, when de
yeah goes out."
" Nigger nonsense is nigger nonsense," said the
" Corn Bug," suddenly becoming quiet and in a half-
apologetic way, turning from Mr. Jones and addressing
Judge Elford ■, "never mind the black fool." Then,
turning to Cupe, he abruptly asked: "Did yo' bring
them thare papahs ? "
The negro handed him the yellowed deed, which
was passed to the judge.
3 33
The "Corn Bug" curses the Parson
" Jedge," said the " Corn Bug," " this 'ere papah air
ov more or less valyer, 'cordin' ter what 's written an'
who wrote et. I ain't eddycated ter understand the
sense ov sech things, an' don't purtend ter know what
lawyers knows, an' this papah is a law papah, es any one
can see by the red sealin' wax an' other marks." The
judge untied the faded ribbon, deliberately unfolded the
time-worn script and silently read the contents.
" Where did you get this document ? " he asked at
length.
" Cupe, the lazy thief, has kept et fifty years an'
more among his nigger things."
" Where did you get it ? " said the judge, meditatively
addressing Cupe.
" Ol' Colonel, Ma'se's gran'pap, gib it ter my pap."
" Why did n't you show it sooner ? "
" De sign wah not right."
" What sign ? "
" Nigger sign, Jedge," interrupted the " Corn Bug."
" Don't ax the fool nigger any more questions ; he don't
know nothin'."
Without replying, the judge carefully refolded the
paper, placing it in his pocket. " I will study the docu-
ment at my leisure and give my opinion at a future
time," he said, after a pause.
34
CHAPTER V
JUDGE ELFORD's DECISION
IN winter, time passes slowly in the country, and
especially did it seem to linger while Stringtown
was awaiting Judge Elford's report concerning the " Corn
Bug's " deed. Each Saturday evening the circle met and
considered such subjects as were of general interest to the
community. At one time the party assumed the func-
tions of a tribunal, and without any expense whatever
to the participants a neighbourhood quarrel was amicably
settled by the judge and teacher. The Rev. Mr. Jones
read two papers on semi-religious subjects the same
evening, and the second Saturday in November the
teacher presented a carefully prepared essay which was
discussed by the wiseacres of the circle, and listened to
by the other members and a few visitors. At the fol-
lowing meeting the colonel — Colonel Luridson — told
a story of adventure, and afterward, by way of diversion,
the floor was cleared, and to the pat of Jupiter (pro-
nounced Juba) by ole Cupe, who always attended his
master, a couple of young " buck " negroes rendered a
dance. These Saturday night entertainment parties
drew a large audience. The subjects discussed were
not necessarily of a trivial nature, although when Mr.
Jones was absent much light gossip crept into place.
Art, literature, politics and even science were not neg-
lected. We were country people of simple tastes, but
35
Stringtown on the Pike
paved streets, bright lights, noise, confusion, the glamour
of fashion and the vanities of society are not necessary
for intellectual development. Urban surroundings are
not essential to discipline children for leadership in any
walk, educational or commercial. But enough of this ;
I must pass to the record of our meeting the second
Saturday evening in November, 1863, ^s shown by the
yellowed stenographic notes of the grocer's boy, now on
the desk before me.
That night the room contained a large and anxious
audience, for it had become noised about that the legal
document under consideration pretended to convey to the
" Corn Bug " much of the land in Stringtown County.
If it was accepted by the judge as genuine and legal, to
many persons in that assemblage, who placed implicit
confidence in his judgment, it meant the loss of accumu-
lations of life-long toil. The full force of the disaster
that would come to the community in case the floating
stories concerning the document were sustained was
known to all ; many were the quiet discussions that had
been held concerning its final effect. The lengthened
deliberations of the judge had mdicated that important
disclosures were to be made, and this inference was sup-
ported by the fact that under his direction the county
surveyor had run a series of lines about the section
named in the will, and had made careful calculations
concerning it. Hence it was that amid perfect silence
Judge Elford adjusted his spectacles and read from a
carefully drawn manuscript,
" The paper which I hold in my hand is a Virginia
colonel's military warrant, and calls for five thousand
acres of land, more or less. The document is in good
form and was drawn up during the last century under
the laws of Virginia, while Kentucky was still a part of
j6
Judge Elford's Decision
that territory. The boundary of the land included in
this survey is exactly located as follows :
" ' Beginning at the great boulder over Clear Spring,
thence east to the blazed road in Fowler's Valley, thence
north to the fork of Bear's Creek, thence west to Fow-
ler's Valley, thence south to the starting-point.' Now,
Fowler's Valley passes diagonally through this territory,
and the description is otherwise in exact conformity
with the present landmarks, known by the same names.
Since a line run by the county surveyor at my request
demonstrates that the land embraced in this military
claim covers about five thousand acres, there is in my
mind no doubt but the survey is authentic. However,
a discrepancy involving many acres would not discredit
the title, for the early surveyors of Kentucky made no
allowance for hills and valleys or for unequal surfaces,
and, indeed, owing to the abundance of land, cared
little about precision of survey, taking care only that
enough was given. For example, one Kentucky patent,
cited in a recent court decision, which called for four
thousand acres, actually embraced over nine thousand
acres ; and some lands, as many persons have found to
their distress, have been granted by patent two or three
times. These old military titles have always been a
source of great trouble in Kentucky, and purchasers and
settlers have found themselves continually confronted
with the fact that their possessions had been previously
granted to others or were claimed by others.
*' In order, therefore, to overcome this confusion and
to establish clear titles, corrective legislative acts were
passed from time to time, first by Virginia and subse-
quently by Kentucky. In 1796 it was laid down that
adverse possession of the land for a period of twenty
(20) years constituted ownership and completed the title.
37
Stringtown on the Pike
However, no blanket law of this description can be
equitable, for in many cases large tracts of land were
actually stolen by virtue of the opportunity that the mis-
chievous law created ; and in 185 1, the following cor-
rective act was passed : ' An action for the recovery of
real property can only be brought within fifteen years
after the right to institute it first accrued to the plaintiff
or the person through whom he claims.' Legal con-
tests by reason of these surveys and legal enactments
have probably cost the landowners of Kentucky more in
the aggregate than the entire realty of the Commonwealth
is worth,
"Now, under the twenty-year possession act of 1796,
the tract specified by the warrant under consideration,
were there no exceptional circumstances, would have
been outlawed long since and the warrant of Colonel
Hardman would have no value whatever ; but certain
conditions peculiar to this case, considered in connection
with the amendment of 1851, render it questionable
whether a court of equity would not sustain the claim of
the heir. True, Mr. Hardman has never held posses-
sion of the land, but his dispossession has been from no
fault of his own, and his father was in the same predic-
ament. His grandfather, the old colonel, located the
land properly, obtained a military warrant for it and
recorded this warrant, as I find, in the Virginia Land
Office, where the fact slumbered unseen. He placed
the document in the hand of an irresponsible party,
instructing him under certain conditions to give it to his
son at a certain time. This was not done, but, instead,
the paper was handed to another irresponsible party, and
has now turned up after three-quarters of a century.
"The old colonel could not foresee the course the
paper would take; the son knew nothing about the docu-
38
Judge Elford's Decision
ment, neither did the son's son, the present heir, who
presented it to me at once on its discovery. The deed
has not been neglected by any responsible party ; the
inheritors, in ignorance of their possessions, have lived
constantly on other possessions that lie adjacent to part
of the land described, vv^hile strangers have profited from
its use. The question is, will the court dispossess those
who are now in possession in order to give the rightful
heir his just inheritance, or will the court take from Mr.
Hardman a property of which, through no act of his
own and no intention of his ancestor, he has been
deprived these many years ? In my opinion, the land
should in equity revert to Mr. Hardman, but we have
here an extraordinary condition that can only be
decided by the Court of Appeals."
The judge ceased, and silence such as seldom fell
over the members of the circle ensued. Perhaps each
man was waiting for his neighbour to speak ; perhaps all
alike realised the significance of that momentous power
resting with the court of last resort. Then Mr.
Nordman, the old gentleman from above Stringtown,
arose and moved toward the door, but stopping a
moment, without any display of emotion, remarked :
" Ther comes a time, Judge, when a piece of cold
iron is mightier than the law; and if this old deed takes
in my land, I now warn all within hearing that I will
not be dispossessed. My father and mother lie in the
graveyard back of my house, two children of my own
sleep by their side, and a spot under the willow is
marked for Mrs. Nordman and myself to rest in. I do
not fancy being buried in a public graveyard, and damn
me if I will be buried in another man's land. When
the sheriff steps into my front gate he must come armed,
suh, It will be a fair fight, and as I am getting old ^nd
Stringtown on the Pike
stiff, my hand may miss its mark, but if it does, I will
sleep under my own willow-tree. Tell the sheriff, gentle-
men, that when he comes to dispossess me of the
property my father earned, he must be ready to draw a
bead the minute he steps inside the gate, suh." With a
courteous bow the old gentleman left the room.
40
CHAPTER VI
THE DILEMMA OF THE " CORN BUG "
EXPRESSIVE glances were cast around the circle
when Mr. Nordman passed out, and the grocer
remarked in an undertone : " I don't envy the sheriff
his job ; the old man shoots like a ranger. I will bet a
boss he don't sleep under the tree." Then the circle
lapsed into silence. Many hearts were heavy over the
disclosures the judge had made, and he, too, felt the
gloom that settles over one who, having economised his
earnings until the period of rest should come to an
industrious man, finds the savings of a lifetime likely to
be swept aside by a penstroke. At last the " Corn
Bug" spoke :
" Js'^g^? I don't adzacly grasp all the pints ov yer
speech, but I believe I kin see the drift ov the thing.
Ef I catch the idea, this paper es ginuinc, an' nigger
Cupe told the truth. The land es mine ? "
"That is my present opinion."
" Now let me ax a quistion, Jedge. Ef I am right,
the deed calls fer five thousan' acres ov land ? "
" It does, Mr. Hardman."
" The line begins at Clear Spring boulder, runs ter
Fowler's Valley road, then ter Bear Creek fork, then
ter Fowler's Valley cross-road, then back ter the
boulder."
" Yes, so the survey records."
41
Stringtown on the Pike
"Thet takes in old man Sawyer's farm ? "
"Yes."
"Wall, Jedge," said the " Corn Bug" thoughtfully, " I
hain't much love fer the likes ov him. There hain't
no honest bone in his body, an' et goes without sayin'
thet he cheated Widow Longing out ov thet very farm.
Yo' see, Jedge, with all respect ter the court, the law
helped old Sawyer ter steal the land, an' nobody knows
et better than yourself, Jedge ; but yo' need n't begin
ter apologise now fer the law's wrongs, vo' would never
git through. Oh, wall, the widder died in the poor-
house, an' ef I hev my say, old Sawyer will trot in thet
direction. By the way, Jedge, ef I am right, this deed
calls fer the Humses boys' farm ? "
" Certainly; their farm is near the centre of the plat."
*' Wall, sense them fellers got home from college
they hain't no 'count, nohow. They holds up their
heads an' snufFs the air when they passes common folks.
They talks too highfalutin' fer sensible folks, anyway ;
they puts a mo- on their 'lasses an ' a po- on their
'taters an' slings on style like as though their grandad
had n't worked in a deadenin'. This part of the world
ain't good 'nough fer sech stuck-up people. Guess I
won't care ef they hev ter move out ov this section, an'
I takes et nobody else will cry their eyes out. How-
somever, Jedge, how 'bout the village ? Does the deed
call fer the village, Jedge ? "
"Yes. Here is a rough map of the claim. This
crossmark represents Stringtown."
" Wall, I declare. All these dooryard lots an' back
pastures ? "
" Every lot, house and barn."
" Who would hev thought the nigger knew so much,
I 'U be a rich man, Jedge, a very rich man."
42
The Dilemma of the "Corn Bug"
The judge nodded his head.
" The teacher's lot ?"
"Yes."
" The tavern lot ?"
" Yes."
" The two Miss Ruby's lot ?"
" Yes."
"The widder's?" queried the "Corn Bug," glancing
at me. The widow was my mother.
" Yes."
" Yer own lot, Jedge ? "
" Yes." -
" Gewhillikins ! And the graveyard ? "
" The graveyard, too, but not the tombstones."
"Tombstones, Jedge, ain't fit fer nothin' but side-
walks ; those who wants 'em kin take 'em off my ground.
Wall, I '11 be a rich man, Jedge ; I kin eat what I wants
ter, I kin drink what I wants ter."
The judge smiled and a forced laugh went around the
circle.
"Jedge, I don't want the two Miss Ruby's lot.
These girls I hev known sense they were tots. They
speak sof'ly ter me, Jedge, an' et kinder makes me
ashamed ov myself — when I drinks too much I don't
like ter meet 'em then. Yo' see, Jedge, I sometimes
drinks too much."
" So I have heard."
" Wall, et don't matter, I won't hev thet lot. Neither
does I want the widder's property. Sammy," he called,
" come here. Bub." I obeyed, and he placed his hand
on my head and stood looking me in the face.
" Does yo' 'member the day when three boys found
me layin' in the briar patch in the back paster ? Does
yo' know thet the other brats mawked an' called me
43
Stringtown on the Pike
names, never mind what — I kin 'member 'em ef I was
in my cups ? "
« Yes, sir."
" Does yo' recollect thet yo' brushed the flies off my
face an' put my hat over my eyes an' spread yer hand-
kerchief over thet, an' then went fer Cupe ? "
I hung my head, but my silence plainly admitted the
truth of what he said.
" Go back ter yer seat, child, go back. Jedge," he
continued, '' I gives thet boy two thousan' dollars ter
eddycate himself with. He hain't strong 'nough ter
work an' he must larn how ter skin workin' folks ef he
lives 'spectable. Make a lawyer, a doctor, er druggist.
Sonny. Remember, Jedge, when I dies this boy es ter
hev two thousan' dollars in gold an' the little girl at my
house es ter hev my land an' all the rest. I adopt thet
girl, Jedge. Cupe the nigger knows whare the money
is, Jedge. I hev seen a few ov the gold pieces, but
hev n't teched et, an' yo' must give et es I says. I war
drunk once, Jedge, an' more than once, but I ain't drunk
now. Yo' see, Jedge, every drunk man ain't dead er a
fool, no more than every dead man er fool air drunk."
" Better make your will in writing if you want it to be
legal," said the judge.
" Now, Jedge," the " Corn Bug " continued, as if he
had not heard the remark, " the teacher hev done a pile
of good hereabouts. Ef I had known what war best fer
me an' lis'n'd ter Cupe I would hev been eddycated too,
but thare ain't no use in all ov us tryin' ter be smart,
Thare must be some gentlemen an' some workingmen in
the world, thare must be some eddycated people, an'
some who don't know nothin'. Et ain't the man who
knows the most who air happiest, an' et ain't the man
who hev done the most good who gits the soft seats ter
44
The Dilemma of the '^ Corn Buo;"
rest in. I hev n't done nothin' fer nobody, an' I don't de-
sarve nothin' from nobody, an' here I finds a loose plan-
tation. The teacher hev taught a pile of larnin' ter
others an' made lots ov folks rich who hev used his larn-
in', an' he hain't got nothin' but a house an' lot ; an' ef
these law fellers in Frankfort, who don't care a damn fer
either ov us, says so, he's ter be kicked out an' I' m ter
git the lot. I don't want his lot though, an' I won't hev
his lot, an' I don't want yer lot, Jedge, either. But the
tavern, Jedge, the tavern."
" Well ? "
"Thet 's the place fer me, fellers. I never b'l'eved
thet I could git a chance ter live in a tavern ; thet's the
next thing ter flyin' through Heaven, Jedge. Howsom-
ever, thare es somethin' ter say on t' other side ov every
quistion. Ef I gits rich an' lives in a tavern then I kin
git all the licker 1 wants. Ef I gits all the licker I wants,
I will drink so much licker I won't hev sense 'nough
ter know when I wants licker. Ef I don't know nothin'
an' I won't ef I lives in a tavern, I can't want any more
licker, an' I would es soon be dead es not ter want
licker. This air a tough quistion, Jedge, fer sech a feller
as I am ter conumdrate.
"Now, es ter the graveyard. What good will a
graveyard do me ? I hev stood with my hat off in thet
graveyard in winter an' in summer watchin' buryin's. I
hev seen mothers cry over their babies an' hev seen
children kneel 'round the graves ov their mothers. I
hev a graveyard ov my own behind the cabin, an' thet's
'nough for me. I never wants ter own a public grave-
yard. It es hard 'nough, Jedge, ter hear people sobbin'
on their own property, an' ef I should own thet town
graveyard I would feel es though all those cryin's ov or-
phans an' sobbin's ov mothers were 'round me. I 'd
45
Stringtown on the Pike
dream 'bout 'em in the night, an' I 'd be afeard ter even
drink 'nough ter git happy dreams, fer a man who has
licker-dreams air very sensitive an' must hev a clear con-
science. He muss n't hev any devilment in his mind ef
he air in his cups, else he dreams ov snakes an' sech.
Besides, Jedge, I kinder don't know 'bout the vartue ov
the law when et comes ter the graveyard case. Ef a
person don't own the six feet ov ground he lies in, what
does he own ? Et don't seem es ef the Lord would
bring men an' women inter the world an' grow 'em ter
full size without givin' 'em land 'nough ter hold their
bones. I kinder feels thet et air a farce fer a feller with
five thousan' acres ov land growin' up in briars an' per-
simmons ter say he owns the six feet ov ground his dead
neighbour lies in an' who don't want no more than six
by two. Guess, Jedge, the lawyers kin keep the grave-
yard fer their fee ; they won't give me all this land fer
nothin' ; they hev n't no feelin's neither, an' won't care
ef the graveyard their neighbours rest in es ploughed up.
" J^^g^? I ain't talkin' altogether ter yo' now, but am
arguin' ter myself es well. Yo' see, Jedge, while I
don't cast no reflections at nobody, still I likes ter talk
ter myself. Thare ain't no harm in thet. Old Squire
Slickum always talked out loud ter himself, an' he wa'n't
no fool either. One time I asked him what he did it
fer. Yo' see, Jedge, I am given ter the same habit, an'
I kinder wanted ter git an argument ready in case some
fly-up-the-creek person asked me consarning the sar-
cumstance. The Squire said thet he talked ter himself
fer three reasons. First, he liked ter talk ter a smart
man, an' second, he liked ter hear a smart man talk. I
hev forgotten the other reason, but et don't make no
diff'rence. You -all won't take no offence at my
excuse, an' I only asks yo' ter 'member thet I tells this
46
The Dilemma of the "Corn Bug"
story es ^ an excuse, fer et air dangerous ter say out loud
ter others what one thinks ov lawyers. A man air
never sure ov keepin' out ov their clutches. They air
after everybody. Ef a fellow hain't got nothin', he
wants what some other feller has got, an' pays a lawyer
ter help him git it, an' the lawyer never renigs. Ef he
has got somethin', he has ter hire a lawyer ter help him
keep et. Et air funny, Jedge, ain't et, thare air only
one sure winner, an' thet air the lawyer. I am talkin'
at random ter myself, Jedge, an' don't mean nothin'
personal."
" I know that you do not reflect on me," replied
Judge Elford, " and I am aware that many attorneys do
disreputable things in the name of the law. However,
Mr. Hardman, were it not for the law, honest men
would be the prey of designers. Take this case of your
own as an example ; in my opinion, the Court of Ap-
peals will dispossess me, a man of law, of my life sav-
ings, and, were I on the bench, and your case before
me, no self-interest would influence in the least my de-
cision."
" I ax yer pardon, Jedge," said Hardman, " I war
talkin' at random. I war not thinkin' ov the good yo'
lawyers do, but ov the bad. I sometimes fergits the
good things what happens, but hangs onter the other
side, an' thet air the fault ov other people es well es
myself."
1 Pronounce the s as z.
47
CHAPTER VII
" THE BEST OF THE DEVIL AND THE LAW TOO."
THE " Corn Bug " paused for a moment, and went
on with his rambling talk, which none present
cared to interrupt, knowing that he had some object in
view that could only be discovered by allowing him to
finish in his own way.
" Ef thet air deed air legal I will be a very rich man,
maybe too rich. Somehow, p'r'aps et air possible fer a
feller ter be too rich. But ter the pint ; ef this paper
(holding up the deed) is correct, Jedge, I will become a
landlord an' own all this corner ov the country ? "
" The law allows it."
" Every lot in the village ? "
" Unquestionably."
" Every farm inside these lines ? "
" Every wood, field, orchard, and garden."
" Jedge, all these people will have ter pay me rent ? "
" Yes, or you can expel them."
" Widders, orphans, storekeepers, tavern-keepers,
school teachers, preachers, poor people, rich people ? "
" Yes."
" I won't hev ter work. I kin just put my hand in
my pocket an' take out a dollar when I wants ter ? "
" Well, it looks that way."
" Now, Jedge, what right hev I ter this land ^ What
hev I done thet et should b'long ter me ? "
48
"The Best of the Devil, &c."
" The law will give it to you if the Court of Appeals
so decides."
" Jedge, I hain't done nothin' on the tract, an' these
other people hev cleared the land, burned the brush an'
ploughed up the roots. Mr. Nordman told the truth, et
ain't mine, law er no law."
" The deed of your grandfather carries the land to his
heirs."
" Wall, p'r'aps yer law is powerful 'nough ter make
et right, but et seems es ef et helps steal. I guess,
though, I ain't ter blame fer the law's mistakes, an' ef
the land es mine, why ov course I must obey the law.
" Lord, folks, but 1 kin live high. P'r'aps et ain't
best to live too high either. Sometimes now I lives too
high an' sings too loud an' talks too much. Guess I hev
talked too much ter-night. Ef I hev my pocket always
full ov money, Jedge, won't I treat the crowd an' won't
I punish the eggnog ! I '11 be rich, awful rich. I '11
hire a clerk ter collect rents ; I '11 sit in an office an'
count money. Et must be awful satisfyin' an' elevatin'
ter count money all day. I '11 wear store clothes on
week days an' eat sardines, an' drink mint julips every
day in the summer, an' eat oysters an' drink eggnog every
day in the winter. I '11 build my office next ter the tavern.
This paper hev raised my calculations high, an' I hev
kinder been arguin' an' enjoyin' myself out loud. Thare
air two sides ter every quistion though, es you hev said
more than once, an' I bed better look a minute at the
other side.
" Jedge, I hev lived in this neighbourhood fifty years
comin' next January. I hev worked on week days an'
rested on Sundays, an' hev lived es well as I desarvcd
ter do. I wears warm jeans clothes an' I never suffers
with heat er cold, lessen I am in my cups an' lays out.
4 49
Stringtown on the Pike
You-uns all earned yer homes an' farms an' yo' owns
'em, law er no law. I don't want ter throw any ov
you-uns out ov the homes yo' hev saved, an', Jedge, yo'
know thet the city man who once threw the widder an'
childern inter the snow said thet rich men air ter be
pitied fer they hev ter make rules they don't like thet
bears hard on some people. One ov the first ter go
would be the Widder Drew. She can't pay no rent ;
an' the next would be the orphan Ruby girls, they hain't
got no money. I know a good many other people in
the village who can't pay no rent — the Lord only knows
how village people do make a livin', an' rich men like I
am goin' ter be can't make no 'lowances. Either pay up
er git out. Take yer house ofF the lot. The flesh is
weak, Jedge, an' I am afeard ef this deed turns out ter
be good, I will make rich man's rules first, an' shake
ban's with the law second, an' go ter the devil third.
My conscience will be ruined, Jedge ; the flesh es pow-
erful weak. I don't do nobody no harm now ; I works
an' sleeps an' eats an' drinks an' hev a clear conscience.
I eats what I wants when I kin git it, an' pays fer what
I drinks, an' am happy, an' ain't carin' fer nothin' ner
nobody.
" An' this here paper," holding up the deed, " is the
dockyment what makes you-uns all this trouble, Jedge ? "
" You understand its import."
" An' makes me rich ? "
'' The richest man in the county."
" Ain't thare no copy ? "
" No."
" Comreds, et would be pow'ful fine fer a feller like
me ter wear store clothes week days, an' eat sardines an'
oysters when I wants 'em, an* drink eggnog all the
winter and julips all the summer. Et would be glorious
50
"The Best of the Devil, &c."
ter git even with them Sawyers an' Humses an' a few
other skinflints an' stuck-ups. But I can't afford no
disgrace ter my conscience. I don't want ter turn wid-
ders an' orphans out ov their homes ; I can't take rent
money fer Ian' I did n't earn, an' yet et 's an awful
temptation ter the likes ov me."
He opened the deed, looked at the red seal, carefully
folded it and tied it again, stroked it lovingly, half thrust
it into his pocket, turned toward the door, then recon-
sidered, came back and drew the document out again.
" Et air an awful temptation, Jedge, ter the likes ov me.
I tastes the eggnog now an' smells the julips." Then
he stood meditatingly and silent.
" Jedge," said Mr. Hardman, at last, " I hev got the
best ov the devil an' the law too, an' you-all kin go
home an' sleep. The village ain't mine, law er no law,
an' I ain't a-goin' ter help the law steal. I gits drunk
with my own money, which ain't no harm ter the likes
ov me an' don't hurt no other feller ner the Lord either,
but I never intends ter buy nothin' fer myself with the
money I 've squeezed out ov widders an' orphans, an' I
don't intend ter let the law make me a thief first an' a
wretch second. Folks, I hev downed the devil, an' the
law, which taken together air mighty hard fer a man ter
do. I don't intend ter hev no fam'ly disgrace, an' I
don't intend ter steal nothin'. Fellers, old man Nord-
man won't hev ter shoot the sheriff."
He opened the stove door and thrust the dry docu-
ment into the blaze. A flash as of tinder, a pufF, a
twisting, blackening paper, and then — ashes. Those
about drew back in amazement.
"Yer kin go home an' sleep, folks," said the Corn
Bug turning from the stove, " thare ain't no copy ter
disturb you-all, an' thare ain't no tavern, sardines, eggnog
51
Stringtown on the Pike
an' julips fer the likes ov me. Come, Cupe, come, we
don't live in the hotel no more ; it air gittin' late, it air
rainin', an' the mud air deep b'twixt here an' the cabin."
The " Corn Bug " opened the door, and together with
old Cupe stalked out into the darkness.
52
CHAPTER VIII
THE STORY OF THE COLONEL
NEW Year's Eve, 1863, had been set apart by
the Village Circle as a special holiday, the inten-
tion of the members being " to see the old year out "
and listen to the reading of a special paper by the pastor,
Mr. Jones, which was to be replied to by Colonel Lu-
ridson. The "Corn Bug" had "taken sick," as the
doctor expressed it, the morning after the meeting men-
tioned in the preceding chapter, and his illness proved
to be serious. Too obstinate to care for himself, the
eccentric fellow neglected medical aid, and acute pneu-
monia, a common fatality in many parts of Kentucky,
had followed, quickly succeeding an ordinary cold,
Thursday, December 31, 1863, dawned warm and
sultry. The thermometer registered seventy that morn-
ing, and about noon a heavy mist settled over hill
and valley. This was followed in the afternoon by a
drizzling rain that sifted down in fine particles, which
sopped the grass and stuck together the pendent dead
leaves always clinging, during soft weather in mid-winter,
to the lower beech limbs.
In the evening the members of the Stringtown Circle
met according to expectation, but owing to the storm
many of them were detained and straggled to their
places. The " Corn Bug " alone was finally absent : as
has been said, he lay dangerously ill in his humble cabin.
The grocer's boy sat, as usual, behind the counter, ready
S3
Strlngtown on the Pike
to take notes in shorthand on a quire of white paper
such as is used for wrapping tea, and I sat on a stool
beneath the hanging lamp, just back of the favored
members of the Circle. Silence fell upon the persons
who first presented themselves : a shadow seemed to
hang over the Circle.
The reserve was finally broken by Chinney Bill
Smith, a bearded man, who vowed when Fort Sumter
was bombarded, never to cut his hair or whiskers until
the South was free. This man regaled the Circle by
relating the story of " the mother of Sam Hill's wife's
sister," the story teller being typical of more than one
person well known and popular in the commonwealth of
Kentucky.!
From the humorous sketch of Chinney Bill Smith it
was apparently a long step to the dissertation which fol-
lowed, an essay on storms, delivered by Prof. Drake.
Yet it was characteristic of the Circle that it could pass
with relish from one extreme to the other.
At the conclusion of Professor Drake's essay, the
evening being not very far advanced. Judge Elford
addressed Mr. Jones.
" Pastor, it is your turn now. Let us have your
promised essay on Death, to be answered by Colonel
Luridson."
The pastor arose, threw his long hair back from his
forehead and mildly remarked : " Before beginning to
read I will say that the title does not always clearly
define the contents of a book ; and while my paper deals
with the subject of death, its caption is ' The Life
Line.' " Then in a slow, deliberate tone, quite in con-
' This story was a monstrous exaggeration, quite humorous and
yet threaded with satire and irony. Although a welcome diversion
in its place the author believes it better to exclude it from this book.
54
^
-•a
i: "*=
b.
The Story of the Colonel
trast to that of bald, spectacled Prof. Drake, the essayist
read on uninterrupted and without pause until he reached
the closing sentence : —
" Let us think, then, of the end point of this drama.
Since none can foresee just when the tread on the life-
line will falter, let us accept that it matters little whether
in the morning or the evening it be that we take the
awful plunge. To-day, never to-morrow, loosens our
hold of earthly problems."
Then raising his eyes from the paper, he glanced first
at Judge Elford, who, immovable, made no response,
then at Prof. Drake, who, leaning his head on his hands,
gazed intently on the floor. Then his questioning look
passed without response successively around the circle,
from one to the other, and finally rested again on the
face of the colonel, whose part it was to answer the
essay. Standing alone, gazing intently at the upright
colonel, the parson folded his arms across his chest and
deliberately said, looking directly into Luridson's eyes :
" Do you know, my friend, you who are to reply to this
essay, do you know when you or I will loosen our hold
on the life-line ? Are you prepared for the end of the
game of life ? "
What play of thought sped from man to man as the
eyes of these two met cannot be told in words, but could
be felt by those who caught the meeting of those eyes.
'T is not when steel meets steel, nor when flint meets
flint that the fire flies, but when steel meets flint. Per-
haps none present realized that such opposites were face
to face.
For a second neither moved. The parson held the
unfinished essay in his hand, while the colonel stoically
chewed his quid of tobacco, apparently indift^erent to
surroundings. Suddenly the latter, looking the tranquil
55
Stringtown on the Pike
parson in the eye replied as if impelled by a mental
question exacted from him by his opponent :
" You can put your paper away, Mr. Jones," he said.
" I have heard enough and am ready to say my speech.
Pahson, no preacher ever told the truth bettah than you
have told it. 1 look fierce, they tell me, Mr. Jones, but
I am very tendah hearted. I would n't cause a shivah of
pain to man, woman, or child, and I would n't hahm
even a snail. You use words too big for me ; I can't
answer you aftah the same style, but, as old General
Haydon, of Virginia, used to say : ' It don't mattah
much about the grammah so we get the sense.' I
reckon, Mr. Jones, that I kin tell a story about as well
as you kin, but I can't talk in a general way as you do
about unseen things. I must relate something about
what my eyes have looked at ; I can't sling in high-
toned words either : but if any man undertakes to beat
me in stating plain facts 'bout what he knows, you kin
bet, suh, he has got to speak straight. Folks can undah-
stand Richard Luridson without a dictionary.
" I agree with you. Reverend, when you say that no
fellah knows just when he is going to hand in his tickets,
and to all of us the thought of death is damnably un-
pleasant. My heart is tendah, I '11 swear to it gentle-
men ; I ain't to blame if my beard is stiff. The heart
of a hard-shelled turtle is as soft to the touch as that of
a mouse, suh. Once when I shot a wild pigeon, an
innocent little bird, and picked the creature up, it turned
its little head towards me and looked me in the eye.
What cause had I to take that small life ? a life sacri-
ficed for a mouthful of black meat ^ Pahson, you may
believe me or not, but that was a cruelty my tendah
heart throbs over yet. But I ain't a coward, Mr. Jones ;
there is a distinction between brutality and bravery, and
56
The Story of the Colonel
when it comes tc a fight I am always on hand. I have
seen pious-like men of the church, more cruel than I
am. I have known deacons who kneel in the ' Amen '
corner, hunt all day Saturday with a gun, seeking a covey
of harmless quail, and shoot them down like flies, — take
the lives of these helpless creatures that nevah insulted
any man ; and the next Sabbath these same pious fellahs
sit in church trying to look like angels while the preacher
reads out of the Good Book, ' Thou shalt not kill ! ' I am
a consistent man. Judge," continued the colonel, " I don't
pertend to be religious, but I do claim that I am con-
sistent J and while my heart is very tendah, as I have
admitted, yet no man dare insult me."
" While you were reading your sober rigmarole,
Pahson, 1 wah thinking ofF and on of a case in which I
wah consarned in ole Virginia, and jest when you stopped
and looked up I had reached the p'int where I seized the
gullet of the critter ; and as you lowered the papah and
looked me in the eye, it seemed as though that same
young fellow's face rose up befoah me. But pshaw !
what 's the use of thinking about things that hev passed
away ? That fellow brought his punishment on his
own head."
The colonel lapsed into silence and stared at the stove.
" Tell us all about it, or let Mr. Jones finish his
essay," requested the clerk. " Go on with your story,"
urged a chorus of voices. " I relinquish the field and
beg you to oblige us," added the parson, in a slightly
ironical tone.
" Wall, since that day I hev n't talked about the
episode, fer, as I hev already told you, there ain't no use
in worrying over the troubles of another fellah, especially
if the other fellah is dead, and it don 't do no good,
either, to think about the mistakes that other people hev
57
Stringtown on the Pike
made, and that there fellah made the mistake of his life
then and there. The blunders of dead people should be
fergotten."
Again the speaker paused. The eyes of the judge
and the teacher were fastened inquiringly upon the par-
son, who now seemed out of place, yet preternaturally
calm. " Continue your narrative. Colonel Luridson, "
he said coldly ; " you have said that you are not a
coward."
" I hev kindah gloomy feeHngs to-night and can 't tell
a story quite as well as I should," resumed Luridson,
casting a black look at the parson. " Once, ovah in ole
Virginia, I wah walking along a meadow path smoking a
cigar, thinking of nothin', as most people do when they
are smoking, when suddenly I stopped just as I was
about to step on a great black snake stretched in the
walk. I raised my heel and stamped the head of that
sarpent into the earth. I am sech a soft-hearted fool,
that I can't look back at that display of brutality with-
out shuddering. Not fer the snake ; no, I hev killed
hundreds of sech varmints, but fer a little baby snake
that I then saw stretched beside the mothah — a little
innocent snake not longah than a pencil. That night
there was a rain-storm, and I '11 swear, gentlemen, that
1 lay awake an hour thinking of the poor critter perish-
ing. I am a very tendah-hearted man and am not to
blame if my cheek is rough."
Evidently the vain braggart was loth to describe the
event of "honour" that he had unwittingly introduced.
" The story, please," quietly insisted the parson.
" Wall, it is not much of a story, aftah all, and I kin
give it in a few words. I s'pose you admit, Pahson,
that back in ole Virginia there is more honah among
gentlemen than there is in other places, and begging
58
The Story of the Colonel
pahdon of the persons present, more gentlemen to the
acre. It don't require book learning in ole Virginia to
make a gentleman, neithah does book learning make a
gentleman anywhere, 'though, as a rule, it does no harm;
but, as you know, ole Virginia turns out gentlemen of
both kinds, gentlemen bohn and gentlemen learned. I
b'long to the first class of gents, which, begging pahdon
of some of the persons present, I considah the highah
class."
" The under class," remarked the parson drily, " know
something about your type of gentlemen. But we are
all impatient to hear your ' episode,' as you call it. We
know you are a gentleman, but are waiting for the
story."
" Wall, suh, a gentleman of old Virginia, of the first
class can't be insulted. If a fellah attempts to insult
him, either the fellah dies or the gentleman dies. In
either case no dirt sticks to the gentleman, fer his boots
air on. You see, pahson, there is another phase of the
mattah when it comes to the question of honah, a phase
that common people, low-bohn people, cannot raise
themselves into. The highah strung the gentleman, the
easiah it is to affect his honah, and to a high-strung man
the smallah the reflection the greatah is the insult. Only
persons of the highah order can comprehend this fact.
Now, up North," and Luridson turned directly upon
Mr. Jones, " where the finah qualities do not appeah,
where a gentleman is nevah bohn a gentleman, insults
air taken that in ole Virginia would be remembered to
the third generation. Colonel Clough of my county
killed the grandson of the man who insulted his grand-
fathah. Not that the colonel's grandfather did not kill
his man (fer he did), not that the colonel's father did not
kill the man's son (fer he did), not that the son of the
59
Stringtown on the Pike
man the colonel's father killed had done anything per-
sonally to injure the colonel (fer he had not), but because
every killing of that family done by his descendants
raised the honah of the ole colonel. There hev been
twelve men shot with their boots on by the descendants
of Colonel Clough, and I saw four of 'em bite the dust.
You bet that family proposes to keep untarnished the
honah of the great colonel."
Once more the equivocating speaker faltered, and
once more Mr. Jones, as though determined to compel
the delivery of the promised narrative, said in a low,
insistent voice :
" Your own story, colonel, your own story."
" Wall, it ain't a long story, and it ain't the only
episode of the kind I hev experienced. I can 't see why
I think of this one jest now, either, fer I hev been en-
gaged in others more exciting, but you seem to drive me
to it. There wah, fer example, jest aftah I became of
age, a disturbing character in our parts who went around
insulting persons generally by asking questions about
their affairs, but he knew well enough who not to insult.
He nevah but once touched one of the bohn gentlemen
of our county, and nevah again did his tongue wag
about any one. This is how it wah ; one day he met
one of our niggahs, and in an impudent sort of way asked
a question concerning our family. Now, Pahson, our
family affairs air not the public's property, and when
that niggah told me of the impudence of the inquisitive
person, it meant pistols, and it wah pistols. It wah n't
my fault that he would n't shoot, and stood like a mummy
with his pistol in his hand looking at me when ole Tim
Warman counted three ; and I guess as he felt the sting
of the bullet that let out his heart's blood, that he wished
he had n't asked the niggah of a bohn gentleman whether
60
The Story of the Colonel
his young mastah had reached home safely the night he
drank too much licker and raised hell in the village. It
ain't safe to question niggahs about their mastah's
affairs."
The Virginian here turned his eyes away from the
parson, who now stood as if he were an antagonist, de-
termined not to let him escape.
" Why do you evade your duty ? " he asked lowering
his voice. " Are you a coward, Mr. Luridson ? Your
last episode, not your first."
Fire flashed from the colonel's eye ; he cast a quick
glance at the parson, who with folded arms stood facing
him, and then, as if respecting the cloth of the man of
God, or subdued by that placid gaze, he turned his eyes
toward the ceiling.
" The last affair to this date you mean, Pahson, not
necessarily the last one. No man knows when he
may strike a quarrel, any more than he knows jest when
he may slip off the tight-rope you were preaching of," he
replied, leering in a sinister way at the parson. *' You
want my episode, and you seem to want it bad. Now
you shall hev it, and I call these gentlemen to witness
that you forced me to relate it. I 'm not ashamed of
my record, nor afraid to make a clean breast of it, but I
hev done all a gentleman can do to save trouble, and if
trouble comes it ain't my fault.
" This is the way it happened :
''I hain't much schooling, but I hev enough to ansah
all the use a bohn gentleman has fer book learning. I
went to school until I could read the newspapah and
write a fair letter, and then I found it useless to spend
more time with books. I did n't intend to write a novel
or edit a dictionary, and I did n't propose to fool away
my time on matters that were of no particular value to a
6i
Stringtown on the Pike
gentleman of leisure, so I dropped school and turned my
attention to foxes and dogs.
" Wall, that ole schoolhouse stood until this war of
secession came, honerable as a schoolhouse should stand ;
but aftah our forces retired and the Yankee lines were
advanced beyond us, the house was disgraced by this
damn Freedman's Bureau.^ You would n't believe it if
a gentleman like myself did n't certify to the fact, but a
Yankee wah sent to our section and a niggah school wah
started in the very house where I had carved my name
on the bench. Gentlemen, a niggah school."
"Well," said Mr. Jones, "tell us about the '■niggah*
school."
" There ain't much to tell, fer it did n't last long. A
meeting of neighbourhood gentlemen followed, and 1 wah
delegated to direct that Yankee to close the doors and
leave the country."
" Well ? "
" I laid the case befoah the young man who taught the
school, and one word led to anothah until, finding that
he wah determined to persist in his offensive course, I
told him that he must either close that school or fight."
" And he fought you ? "
" No. The long-haired varmint had n't spunk enough
to fight ; he turned his back, said insolently : ' 'Scuse
me, please, but I hev this duty to perform,' and shut the
doah in my face."
"And you — "
" Kicked the doah down, seized the stripling by the
throat and squeezed his life out. I did n't intend to kill
the boy, fer he wahn't moh 'n half grown ; but aftah I
got my clutches on his throat and thought of the insult
^ The Freedman's Bureau was established in March, 1865.
62
The Story of the Colonel
he had given me and saw a niggah's face behind my ole
desk, I grew desperate, and when I threw him onto the
floor his face was as black as the skin of the niggahs
around him."
"And then — "
" Nothin'. I wiped my hands on my kerchief, called
my dogs and left the fool niggahs and their cowardly
teachah. I had done my duty. I had given the Yankee
and the niggahs a lesson, and I don't hev no squeams
now over the episode. If he had been a bohn gentleman
I would hev shot him in his tracks ; but as it wah, I
choked him as I would a varmint. Nothin' but a coward
is ever choked to death. Perish me, if any damn, long-
haired Yankee shall insult Colonel Luridson."
" What was the man's name ? "
" Jones, suh, Jones. Same name as youhself. Pah-
son, a very common name," he said with a sneer, "and
a very ordinary man, suh."
Mr. Jones stood for a moment as if unconcerned : no
change of facial expression, no movement bespeaking
unusual interest in the subject so abruptly ended. Then
he spoke in a soft, low tone, so sweet and mild that it
is strange his voice could be heard through the roaring
of the storm that now suddenly flared up — as if the
closing of the story had been the signal for its tumultu-
ous onslaught.
" See," he said, " the clock points to twelve. The
New Year is upon us ; " and as we turned our gaze
upon the face of the clock, one by one the husky gong
struck, each note of the asthmatic cry quivering hoarsely
until the next peal came. At the last stroke the parson
dropped upon his knees. " Let us pray," he murmured.
The building trembled in the tempest, the hanging sign
squeaked and cried as it flapped back and forth, the wind
63
Stringtown on the Pike
moaned and sung through the stove pipe, the shutters
banged to and fro, but all were unheard by those who
unexpectedly were called to listen to the sweet, solemn
prayer of the man of God.
He prayed for his suffering country, now in the throes
of civil war; for the people of the colonel in Virginia;
and his brave countrymen in the Southern army ; he
asked blessings on the community in which he, a man
of the North, then chanced to dwell ; also on his own
people at home, and prayed for his own brethren in the
trenches. Before closing he asked God to forgive the
last speaker, who, a self-confessed murderer, stood unre-
pentant ; and finally he murmured a prayer for the soul
of the unsuspecting boy-teacher who, in cold blood, had
lost his life by the hand of the murderous colonel.
Then, without rising, Mr. Jones took his note-book
and pencil from his pocket, and, resting his hand on the
soft cushion of his vacant chair, carefully wrote a few
sentences in it. Rising, he tore out the leaf and handed
it to the village clerk, who was also secretary of the
church. " Read," he said solemnly, " read aloud, and
then present it to the trustees."
" To the Officers of the Strirtgtown Methodist Episcopal Church.
" This, my resignation, is to take effect at once. No longer
a teacher of the Word, no longer a mediator for others, I must
ask others to pray for me, a sinning suppliant.
•* Osmond Jones."
Then, standing erect, he faced Colonel Luridson, who,
undaunted, returned his look with a defiant scowl.
" Pahson," said Luridson, "Pahson Jones, were it
not fer youah cloth I would make you eat the insult you
hev jest given me — me, a Virginia gentleman. At
youah request, I told this story to please this com-
64
The Story of the Colonel
pany. You hev called me a murderah, suh — me, a
gentleman of honah, suh. I will not stand the insult,
pahson or no pahson — prayer or no prayer. You took
advantage of youah cloth, and you shall eat youah
words, or by the bones of my grandfather you will sing
youah next song and breathe youah next insulting pray-
er in — "
" Check your wrath," interrupted the parson, without
the least excitement. " Listen to me. You have told
your story ; now I shall tell mine. If you are a brave
man you will not flinch. I have heard your words, and
you are bound to listen to what I am bound to relate,
and which, notwithstanding the task you have imposed
upon me, I shall tell as deliberately as you have spoken."
65
CHAPTER IX
THE STORY OF THE PARSON.
" TNSCRUTABLE Providence has led us together,
■*- Colonel, me from the North and you from the
South. That we are both of one honourable people is
evidenced from the fact that from Bennington and from
Saratoga, to the moss-clad Southern glades where Marion
camped, our ancestors fought for a common cause, free-
dom for the white man. Shoulder to shoulder your
ancestors and mine faced the same enemy, each patriot
ready and willing to die for the land he loved, a land dear
alike to North and South. Nobler men never lived than
our forefathers, Colonel ; for while yours, on the verge
of starvation, were fighting in Virginia, mine, half frozen
and with empty stomachs, were battling in New Eng-
land. Thank God for the patriots North and South,
who gave us a country of which both have great reason
to be proud.
" You have given your version of an affair in which
you participated, you, a descendant of a Revolutionary
hero who served and died with Washington. You se-
lected what you consider the proper method of righting
a fancied wrong, the manly way to maintain the ' hon-
our' of your distinguished grandfather and yourself.
Now, I will give the history of the man you killed,
who, like yourself, was a descendant of a soldier who
faced the British enemy, and fell near where now stands
66
The Story of the Parson
the monument of Bunker Hill. Notwithstanding your
different methods of life, neither you who live nor he ^
whom you killed can be considered the descendants of
cowards."
Either the speaker's voice had insensibly fallen, or
the storm without had increased in violence to such a
degree as to overcome its low murmur. The words
were scarcely audible, and as the last sentence was
spoken a pause ensued in which one heard only the
shrieking of the frantic wind.
" There are good reasons, Colonel Luridson, why
men cannot see life's duties exactly alike ; and while 1
freely overlook your extravagant ideas of personal hon-
our, it is a pity you cannot have equal charity for the
views of my people. You were reared in the South, I
in the North. Your land is balmy and pleasant most of
the year, mine cold and cheerless. Your soil is easily
cultivated and productive of great returns, our land is
hilly and covered with granite boulders, around the bases
of which men search with the hoe to find a nest here
and there for a few grains of hard, yellow, scrub-flint
corn. Your winters are so mild that stock scarcely
seek for shelter, and your herds graze in open air the
year through ; our winters are so long that when spring
comes the entire crop of the summer has been consumed
in feeding a very limited number of animals. You be-
came the heir of plenty by the result of that battle for
freedom, in which both our ancestors served so valiantly,
while it brought to us only a barren heritage. While you
have been free to roam at will, watching for fancied in-
sults and cultivating belligerent passions, I have been
compelled to work unremittingly, and thus our distinc-
tive environments have created our different views of
life. Each of us should in consequence have forbear-
67
Stringtown on the Pike
ance for the other. I had to gain a livelihood, and was
forced to spend the results of my little savings to secure
the education necessary for the ministry, while you were
provided for by the property you inherited, and were not
obliged to labour."
The parson was interrupted by the grocer, who, ever
mindful of his guests, stepped forth and heaped the fire
with coal ; the long-legged clerk, who had never before
been known to move the relic of a chair on which he
sat, actually broke the record and hitched it toward the
stove. Mose, the Jew — patient, pleasant Mose incap-
able of sarcasm or hatefulness, even when his people had
been abused by idle-mouthed Gentiles, and whose face
had never before lost its smile, now drew his nail-keg
seat a foot forward, even edging himself into the circle
of Gentiles.
" Is n't this a fearful night to be on picket duty ?
God help our exposed brethren of the North and South,"
said Professor Drake. There was no reply, and the
eyes of the spectators turned again to the actors before
them. The colonel, now pressing the preacher to the
climax, as the preacher had previously done to him, said :
" Let 's have the story, Pahson, not an oration about
our common pedigree. I don't catch the connection."
" The story you soon shall have, sir ; I wished to
show that you and I may each revere the memory of the
other's ancestors. I wished also to remove the stigma
you have tried to cast over the man you killed, and to
say. Colonel, that your honoured ancestor fought for his
country, as thousands of noble Southern soldiers are now
doing, and as Colonel Luridson is not doing. Your
ancestors of Revolutionary fame did not choke stripling
lads with pens in their hands in behalf of falsely imputed
insults, sir."
68
The Story of the Parson
Involuntarily the colonel's hand sought his back
pocket, but as he made the movement two members
of the Circle sprang to their feet. The parson waved
them back.
" Shame, shame. Colonel ! " he said calmly, " I have n't
even a pen ; besides, I have not told my story ; you are
bound in honour to listen patiently to my story."
" Then be quick about it," said Luridson savagely,
and be careful of youah words, or I won't promise fer
my temper. Jest now you came near going to the other
Jones, and ancestors or no ancestors, cloth or no cloth,
I warn you not to rile me ag'in."
" I was born and reared in New England," continued
the clergyman without noticing the insult, "where men,
women, and children must work for their living, and I
assure you they consider it honourable to do so. I was
the elder of two boys, and much older than two sisters.
Our little home nestled at the base of a mountain spur,
within a short journey of the ill-fated historical Willey
House, and there, hidden in a nook that even tourists
seldom find, the days of our peaceful child life came and
went. Before our cottage stretched a small meadow,
through which wound a clear brook fresh from the birch-
covered mountain in its rear. One corner of this
meadow was a garden, and included also a small rye
field, which gave us our dark rye bread. We had not
much beyond the necessities of life, but we were happy.
We roamed the mountain side Saturday afternoons,'
caught fish in the brook and helped our father till his
little fields. In winter evenings we cracked nuts, ate
apples and listened to our aged grandmother's stories of
wolves, Indians and of the revolutionary wars ; during
winter we attended a neighbourhood school. You never
beheld such scenes as we sometimes witnessed there ;
69
Stringtown on the Pike
you have never ploughed your way to school through
waist-deep snow nor slept in the garret under the clap-
boards and waked to find the snow sifted in furrows
across the coverlet.
" Such environments teach us to love one another more
dearly, bring us closer together, strengthen family and
neighbourly ties, make our joys a pleasure to others, and
move others to mourn with us in sorrow, bind human
lives into one, give to us faith, hope, and charity.
" You spoke of the fine sense of honour that exists
among your people, but, my brother, could you have
been schooled, as I have been, to think of the sorrowing
friends, the mourning wife, children, or sweetheart, and
the agony with which love looks into an open grave,
your ' tender ' heart, which bleeds at the recollection of a
dying baby snake, would not forget its tenderness and
gloat over cold-blooded murder in behalf of wounded
' honour.' "
As in harmony with these pathetic words, as if to im-
press their force upon that little circle, at this point the
building trembled more violently than ever, the storm's
fury seeming even to bend it out of its upright position,
and, springing from its seat on the topmost shelf, a glass
fruit jar shivered into fragments on the floor directly
between the two upright men.
But the cry of wind and crash of glass were unheeded
by the spell-wrapped actors who stood facing each
other, and the audience began now to realise that these
two men were personally concerned in both the story
the Virginian had told and that which the parson was
relating. The colonel was stoically gazing into vacancy.
" Thus," continued the parson, " my boyhood days were
spent until my brother grew to manhood, and my dear
sisters were in the early bloom of maidenhood ; my
70
The Story of the Parson
aged grandmother, with her stories of the long-ago, had
gone to eternal rest, and my patient, loving mother, like
a guardian angel, moved quietly about the house,
thoughtful of all but herself, typical of thousands of New
England mothers who forget themselves in their plodding
life-work. I 'm thinking now of a typical New England
winter, during which there was never a thaw after the
opening snow flew ; every day after November first the
frost crept deeper, every night the cold grew stronger, and
when the days began to lengthen we had already experi-
enced winter enough for the whole season. It had been
decided long previously that I should go to an academy to
study for the ministry, and each member of our family
had scrimped and saved for years, in order to gather
together the necessary means. My devoted sisters had
even spent several summers as dining-room waiters in a
neighbouring mountain hotel, adding by this sacrifice
their earnings to the family hoard. But God moves in
mysteries; the week after New Year's Day my father
was kicked by our horse and instantly killed. We were
drawn to the churchyard by the same horse ; and as we
bowed our heads about the open grave. Colonel, the
snow which had been shovelled aside stood on a level as
high above the earth's surface as the pit before us sunk
beneath it. Next day the winds swept back the snow
drift, and a cloak of pure, unruffled whiteness told that
God conducted the close as well as the opening of that
drama. God was with me then, but God only knows,
my brethren, whether the hand of Providence is with
me now.
" We returned to our desolate home and spent as
best we could the remainder of the sad winter ; but with
returning spring and the cares of the sugar bush our
sorrow abated, for the duties of life cannot be thrown
71
Stringtown on the Pike
aside even at the behest of grief; and he who best
serves his Creator looks not backward, as you yourself
have said, Colonel. Realising that I had no chance now
for my contemplated education, my ambition was thrown
aside, and the usual life cares were resumed. How
long this ran I cannot say, but long enough to give me
many heartaches over withered prospects. Still, the
unexpected often happens. Friends, you cannot imagine
the joy that followed the reception of a precious letter.
Our Congressman, unbeknown to us, had interested
himself in our behalf with the Freedman's Bureau ; my
brother received by mail a great envelope marked
' Official,' and in it came an appointment as — school-
teacher — in — Virginia."
The Colonel, whose gaze had been riveted upon the
ceiling, shot a quick glance at the speaker; evidently
he had anticipated the closing information, and after the
sudden start he stoically resumed his former position.
Mr. Wagner stopped whittling ; Professor Drake, un-
comfortable, busied himself in straightening the edges
of a pile of books ; Judge Elford grimly chewed his
quid. The pastor stood motionless a moment, appar-
ently lost in thought, then he slowly took his note-book
and some papers from an inner pocket and handed them
to Mr. Wagner, saying : " Please mail these to-morrow
to the address inscribed on the fly-leaf of the book."
At these words Luridson turned half way toward the
wall, and drew his half-closed hand from his hip pocket ;
an object could be seen in its palm which glistened like
a bright bar of iron ; a click followed, the hand returned
the gleaming object to its former place, and the colonel
stood immovable before the pastor.
There was a lull in the wind without at this juncture,
and taking one step towards the colonel, the pastor
72
The Story of the Parson
continued, in a soft, tremulous tone : " Need you be
told what followed ? A telegram, a sobbing mother,
distracted sisters, brother on bended knees, alone, in an
attic room, registering with God an oath to revenge the
infamous crime and not to relent until the murderer
had been brought to judgment. Since that day Heaven
has kept me from encountering the slayer of my brother.
The fellow fled. Colonel, and you know, brave as you
pretend to be, that he who stands before me now is a
fugitive from justice and fears to go back to his Virginia
home ; neither does he dare to let his honourable Vir-
ginia countrymen know his hiding-place. You have
discredited your ancestors, you are shaming the brave
Southern soldier, and have no claim on the glorious
mother of States, Virginia."
The Colonel made a quick motion, as if to strike the
speaker, but Mr. Jones calmly held out his open hand,
and in response to the silent command Luridson re-
sumed his former position.
" Long," continued the pastor, " I struggled to over-
come my wrath, vainly struggled to forgive, and at last
I vowed that while our Master kept us apart no inten-
tional act of mine should bring us into conflict ; but if
God Almighty led us to each other I would consider
that it was by His will, and for a single purpose, and —
the hour has now come."
The hand of the colonel sped toward his hip pocket,
but not so quickly as the pastor's arm sprang out, for as
springs the tongue of a lizard, too rapid for eye to fol-
low, so sprang the pastor's arms ; and as a quivering
sparrow gives one glance of despair, and one only,
when falls the unexpected shadow of the hawk upon him,
so gave the colonel one upward turn of the eye ; and
as the talons of the fierce bird of prey, crunching through
73
Stringtown on the Pike
bone and flesh, creep into the vitals of the death-struck
bird, so crept those finger-ends into the tissues of the
colonel's throat, closing the throbbing arteries beneath,
damming up life's crimson's current until, under the
pressure of the fluttering heart, blood flowed from mouth,
nose, and ear, and the very eyeballs turned purple.
The teacher sprang forward, so did the judge, but loo
late ; the crime had been committed in the space of a
a breath ; taken by surprise, they could give the unfor-
tunate man no help ; the pent-up hatred of years had
been concentrated in that fearful grasp. That wild
throwing of the arms, gurgle indescribably horrible, at-
tempted swelling of the breast, instant blackening of
the face, frightful upturning of the eyeballs, followed by
the rush of blood from the mouth and nostrils, were
sights that haunt me yet.
As falls an unclasped garment in a heap, so sank the
Colonel, dead upon the floor.
Folding his hands upon his breast, the pastor ad-
dressed Judge Elford : " A murderer has gone to judg-
ment, a murderer is born for judgment : I give myself
up to the law."
Paralysed, stunned with horror by what they had
witnessed, the members of the circle stood like frozen
figures, motionless and dumb around the erect parson
and the fallen braggart. How long I know not, only I
am sure that from my place in the rear, where I had
crept close to old Mose, I saw the amazed group stand
aghast, staring first upon the slayer and then upon his
victim.
Next I beheld, as in a dream, that the village doctor
raised the head of the vanquished man, tore open the
garments covering his chest, loosened his collar, placed
a hand upon his breast and kneeled expectantly for a
74
The Story of the Parson
brief period, then with a shake of the head slowly arose
and pronounced the word, " Dead." " Strange," he
said, " that a single squeeze like this should be followed
by death. I have seen men choked until the tongue
hung out of their mouth, and yet they revived. There
is no evidence of life in Luridson, however : the shock
must have burst a blood-vessel in his brain."
The witnesses of the drama now regained their self-
control, the palsy passed, their minds were liberated from
the stupefying spell, and simultaneously several men
stepped forward. In silence the dead colonel was straight-
ened out upon the floor and covered with a strip of
muslin torn from a bolt. A messenger with lantern in
hand was dispatched for the village undertaker, and old
Mose volunteered to perform the errand. During this
period the pastor stood silent, with downcast eyes ; the
judge sat apparently apathetic, and, obeying a common
instinct, the members of the circle automatically resumed
their usual places, waiting for the end of the strange
New Year celebration. I, however, against my will,
now that the old Jew, Mose, was gone from my side,
found myself crouching, shivering next the stove, near
Osmond Jones, the preacher, who alone was standing.
Seeing me, he reached down and placed his hand gentlv
on my head.
" Child," he said, " would to God you had stayed with
your mother to-night."
75
CHAPTER X
THE FEARFUL STORM OF NEW YEAR's EVE, 1 863
THE calm which had subdued, for the time, the
usually active and sometimes boisterous proceedings
of the villagers was in impressive contrast with the wild up-
roar of the winter tempest. The storm raged, if possible,
with increasing violence in the utter darkness around the
building in which lay Colonel Luridson's stark corpse,
surrounded by many who watched, but no one who
deeply mourned. The judge at last rose, and was about
to speak, for the very silence had become oppressive,
when the door of the room was flung open, and old
Cupe, the faithful slave of the " Corn Bug," with the in-
coming blast burst into the midst of the company. Daz-
zled by the brightness, he stared about the room, and it
could be seen that he was benumbed and suffering with
cold. His garments were covered with ice, his beard was
hidden in frost. Catching sight of the physician, neglect-
ing the bright stove that must have seemed so grateful,
he impulsively exclaimed :
" Quick, Doctah, quick, Ma'se am dyin' ; he wan's
yo' too, Pahson ; quick, Pahson ! "
The doctor went to the door, stepped outside, returned,
and closed the strong valve against the blast.
'' Not this night, Cupe. A man would freeze before
he could find the cabin."
" Yo' mus' go, Ma'se Dock, yo' mus' go, fo' nebbah
will Ma'se lib till mahn'n'."
*' I will not go this night," said the doctor emphati-
76
New Year's Eve, 1863
cally. " It is better for one to die than that two should
perish."
After a period of silence the negro's self-possession was
restored, and he became again the garrulous Cupe, prone
to argue regardless of the importance of the message to
be delivered.
" Et doan make no difF'ence nohow," he muttered,
" dah ain't no use in a doctah when deff comes a-walkin'
in. Niggah signs am suah, but doctah stuff am unsahtin.
De sign am not t' be disembayed. What fo' did Cupe
walk absent-minde' like inte' de house t'-day carryin' an
axe on his shouldah ? ^ Didn't Cupe knowdatsech a
sign mean' suah deff t' some pusson, an' fo' de Lawd, de
debbil make him do dat awful ting. An' when Cupe
t'ink ob de awfulness ob de transaction an' step back t'
lebe de room, dah settin, in de op'n doo'way wah dat
dawg Dgawge; an' he jest look up in Cupe's eyes es
sah'ful-like es ebah a dawg could look, es ef he say t'
his old frien', *■ Cupe, yo' hab gone an' done it, suah.'
An' then when Cupe cotch de awfulness ob de 'stake
an' look down at Dgawge quistionin'-like, de dawg raise
his head an' open his mouf an' howl long an' skeary-
like, lookin' all de time in Cupe's face es moanful es de
young missus in de big house on her dyin' bed look, in
de long-ago. God save Ma'se, dah am no 'scapin' de
aftahcomes ob sech signs es dese. De sign in de ashes
de night dat de boy come out er Bloody Hollah done
pinted t' Ma'se dead dis New Yeah night. De axe
sign t'-day done say he gwine t' die, an' den de dawg
what set in de doo'way an' howl am de sartin sign ob
deff, case he see deff com'n' ! But de su'est sign ob all "
1 To carry an implement of outdoor work into the house was a
sign of death. To such an extent was this believed that the artist
who sketched the portrait of old Cupe could not prevail on him to
enter the house with the hoe on which he is leaning.
77
Strlngtown on the Pike
(and Cupe's voice became yet lower and more measured),
" de su'est sign ob all am dat de cedah tree limbs what
Ma'se planted am es long es a coffin now — Cupe
measure dem ag'in t'-day. Yo' kin stay heah, Doctah,
dah ain't no use in yoah stuff nohow ef deff am in de
room. De signs what nebbah fail am pintin' t' sahtin'
deff, dah ain't no good in doctah's stuff now,"
Having thus disposed of the doctor, the messenger
turned to Mr. Jones.
" Ma'se wants de preachah. He hab not ax fo' de
doctah ; he say : ' Cupe, go fo' de pahson, I mus' see de
pahson.' An' den Cupe say, sed he : * Ma'se, did yo'
make frien' wid de pahson like ole Cupe say t' do ? '
*•' * Shet up yoah black mouf an' go fo' de pahson, an'
doan wait too long, fo' I feel pow'ful weak-like,' say
Ma'se, an' he give Cupe sech a look as t' say dah ain't
no time t' lose.
" An' de face ob de dead missus rise up, an' Cupe
heah de words ob de promise he made dat sah'ful night t'
de honey chile what am an angel now. Den he say t'
Ma'se : Ma'se, I swear t' yoah deah muddah dat nebbah
de weddah should be too hot an nebbah too cole fo'
Cupe ter sahve de chile Heaben sent t' her, but dis am
de las' time ole Cupe kin sahve yo', Ma'se,' and den
Cupe lite out an' heah he am. Ma'se Preachah, yo'
will go, suah yo' will ; de sign mix yo' an' Ma'se Honey
up wondahful-like."
The preacher hesitated, but not from fear of the
storm. He looked at the sheet that covered the lank
form of the colonel, then replied, speaking more to the
audience than to the negro :
"I am not a minister — but — a murderer."
The negro gazed at him in wonder, then following
the parson's glance, he stepped to the sheet and raised it
78
New Year's Eve, 1863
cautiously, far enough only to give a view of the face of
the colonel, and started back w^ith staring eyes.
" Fo' de Lawd, Ma'se Preachah an' did yo' slew^ de
colonel ? "
« I did."
The negro's self-composure returned immediately.
" Who 'd ob b'lebed it, Ma'se ! An' yo' so u^eak-
like. Yo' am a bettah man dan yo' looks t' be, Ma'se
Preachah, an' ole Cupe knows yo' sahved him right.
Go t' Ma'se Hardman, nebbah mind the colonel."
The preacher made no reply.
" Doan David slew Gliah," Cupe continued : " doan
de Lawd slew de wicked Belshazzah, doan de people slew
Stephen in de name of de Lawd an' doan yo' slew de
wicked colonel case de Lawd want him killed ? "
The parson looked inquiringly at the judge.
" Parson," responded the judge, " your resignation
has never been accepted by the church. You are yet
legally a minister. The church must accept the resig-
nation you wrote in order to consummate the act."
" But the murder ? "
" That point remains to be established. If this case
comes to trial, the evidence may show that you acted in
self-defence. If I am not mistaken the colonel cocked
his pistol while you were still talking and standing de-
fenceless with both hands exposed. He half drew his
pistol before you grasped his throat. If I am correct,
he now holds a loaded pistol in his hand. Let us see."
And raising the sheet, the judge carefully drew the col-
onel's right hand from its resting place, where it had
fallen partly covered by the coat, and with it came a
tightly clasped pistol.
" I saw him draw the pistol," said I ; "it caught in
his overcoat's lining and got tangled up."
79
Stringtown on the Pike
The judge regarded me curiously. " Do not forget
what you saw, child." Then, turning again to the
minister :
" Another second," he said, " and you would have
been a dead man, Parson ; self-preservation is the first
impulse ; you were unarmed and had made no aggressive
motion. You did your duty, Mr. Jones, and did it
bravely ; the case is self-defence ; and, whatever may be
true of New England, you need fear neither judge nor
jury in Kentucky."
Still the parson hesitated.
" Go ! " said the judge in a tone of authority, point-
ing to the door ; " humanity calls."
Drawing his overcoat tightly around him, without
speaking a word, the parson moved to the door, opened
it, and passed out.
"De end am not yet," said old Cupe, speaking to
himself; " de sign pinted t' two men dead dis night, but
de colonel wah not one ob dem. Heah am one what
de sign miss. Am de sign wrong ? Fool," he mur-
mured, " fool nigger, not t' know dat two defFs could n't
come alone in de face ob sech signs. Ef et am moah
dan one, et am not two, et am free er seven er nine."
" Do you remember what the ' Corn Bug ' said to
Mr. Jones the last time they faced each other in this
room ? " asked the teacher, heedless of Cupe's mutterings.
" Yes," said the judge.
" I have it written," interrupted the grocer's boy ;
turning to his stenographic book, he read : " ' You
have n't the spunk of a sick rabbit and you have n't the
energy of a sleeping possum ; you would n't cross the
street in a shower to save the soul of a saint, and
you would n't dare crook your finger in the face of
a turtle-dove for fear it would get pecked.' "
80
CHAPTER XI
INTO THE STORM PASSED THE MINISTER
WHEN the door of the grocery closed behhid him
the pastor paused, turned, grasped the door-
knob, and stood with his back to the storm. Insensible
now to external things, he did not feel the raging cold
outside the room he had left, and gave no further thought
to the glowing warmth within. He dropped upon his
knees and raised his hands in supplication ; then, rising,
he drew his hat firmly down and strode out of the feeble
light which struggled through the window.
He did not think of the course he should take — there
was no path that night. He did not reason his way —
no power of reason remained. His mind was wrapped
in despondency, his spirit was lost in anguish so deep
that this hurricane, the maddest storm American history
records, was unnoticed and unfelt. There is no other
explanation of the part he took that night. To have
attempted thought concerning surrounding things would
have been fatal to his errand ; to have reasoned would
have lost him the way. Under such conditions and in
such blackness to look for roadways, to seek familiar
objects, to attempt to guide one's self by the intellect,
would be to walk in circles, turn here and there, stagger
like a drunken man, stumble, fall, and perish. The
man did not care to see the way. Sensible neither to
6 8i
Stringtown on the Pike
the cutting hail, the shrieking blast, nor the intense cold,
he ignored that king of storms. Leaving the Stringtown
pike, he struck into the fields and moved on. As if it
were a balmy autumn day, and the breeze simply fanning
the cheek and cooling the brow, as if life's pleasures
were before him and happy thoughts behind, he strode
onward. Presently he turned aside ; something he
neither saw nor felt blocked the way. A herd of swine
huddled together crushed one another, each seeking to
creep beneath the others, striving to press nearer to the
centre of the heap, vainly trying to escape the piercing
cold that all night long crept through and through from
beast to beast, until, when morning broke, not one re-
mained alive. Scarcely had he passed them by when
close beside him a mournful cry sounded ; but the wail
of anguish did not catch his ear nor did it sound again,
for it was the last cry of some hapless beast that, strug-
gling, had fallen helpless, and would not rise again.
Caring not for man nor beast, the pastor moved onward,
guided by he knew not what, toward a light he did not
see. Over hills, through the woods, across frozen
creeks, climbing fences, jumping gullies, seeking neither
path nor road, he sped.
At first the shooting hail stung the skin, leaving little
indented spots, but the sense of pain soon ceased beneath
the quieting touch of benumbing cold. At first, the
wind had waved the flowing hair that encircled his brow ;
but soon the beating hail and congealing frost had
matted it together and frozen it to his skin and coat.
At first, his arms and his fingers moved freely ; but they
rapidly grew insensible to pain or touch and finally hung
stiff and motionless. The man knew nothing of all
this, knew not that the creeping cold was nearing his
vitals ; little cared for life or death.
82
Into the Storm passed the Minister
At last the pastor's eyes were greeted by a slender
ray streaming through a little window near the door of
a cabin. He tried to raise his hand and grasp the door-
knob, but could not. Both arms were numb. He
shouted, but the cry was lost in the roar of the blast ; he
listened, but no answer came, only the tumult of the
sweeping storm. Again and again he cried, and then in
desperation threw himself against the door, crushed it in,
and fell forward into the room. He tried to rise, but
his hand could give no response to his will ; his fingers
rattled against the floor ; his arms refused to bend. By
chance, he pressed his heels against a crevice in the
rough-hewn floor, then he raised his head, next his
shoulders, and finally, as a worm creeps up, his body
rose, and at last stood upright.
Edging along the wall, he reached the swinging door
that now slammed in and out obedient to the whim of
the varying blast, and pressing his weight against it suc-
ceeded in closing it, even to the snapping of the catch.
Just then the flickering flame in the great fireplace
flashed upward, lighting the room.
The cabin was built of unhewn beech logs. The
spaces between the logs were chinked with stones and
the interstices had been filled with mud. In the ceiling
was a square hole to which a ladder reached ; the floor
was puncheon. At one end of the oblong room a
chimney-place covered much of the area. A window
opposed the fireplace, and another was cut beside the
door. The hearth was made of a single, large flat fossil
stone from out the creek bed. On that stone stood an
iron oven, a few kitchen utensils, and in the huge throat
of the chimney hung a crane to hold the kettle or sus-
pend the roast. The furniture of the room comprised
a small table, a few chairs and a bed. On the wall
83
Stringtown on the Pike
hung a brace of horns, a couple of guns, some arrows
and a powder flask and pouch that once had been in
service. All this the pastor saw as the fitful fireflash
glimmered ; for the quickened intellect of the man
whose life, resting on the edge of one world did not
reach yet a foothold in the other, comprehended quickly
all that rose before his gaze. To the dying pastor time
was precious, and a single flash carried to his brain
what, under other circumstances, might have remained
long unseen.
Then he fixed his gaze on the wan visage of the
" Corn Bug," who stared back again from the coverlets
of the bed ; — a face in which only two great eyes and
a stub nose were visible, for a mass of tangled beard
and matted, unkempt hair covered all but the staring
eyes and whiskey-dyed nose, while the body of the
wretched man sank back.
The man was not alone ; for Mr. Jones saw another
form in the shadows, half reclining, half sitting on the
opposite side of the bed — the form of a child, a
young girl with dishevelled, flowing hair. She seemed
to have been startled from sleep by the intruder, but she
made no movement and asked no question. And still
beyond these two, on the hearth, in the edge of the
chimney, so indistinct that it was a question whether it
were a shadow or a substance, he caught sight of a
sombre tracing that resembled a human being, and yet
seemed not altogether human — a dusky mask that
seemed thrown before and yet might have been a part
of a form behind.
The flickering fire started up and sank again, the
shadows played in dissolving waves about the room.
The wind without, in unison with the dancing shadows
within, rose and fell, singing strange songs, which
84
Into the Storm passed the Minister
verberated through the many half-chinked crevices of
the logs.
Never had the New England Parson heard the play
of the wind at midnight in a house of logs, nor had he
ever gazed at such a scene as this. In that Kentucky
land, man nor child had ever taken part in such a drama,
nor, after that New Year's Eve, 1864, has any man
heard such fiercely wild wind music. The two men
gazed long at each other, but both held their voices.
The child broke the spell, and it is well that she did
so, for the men seemed unable to utter a word. Each
seemed to have transfixed the other ; neither had the
power to move. It was a nightmare spell, and as in a
nightmare the life may flee before the body can be
induced to move, so, had no living being spoken, the
spell that held these men might have ended as nightmare
sometimes ends.
Impulsively the little girl threw her arms about the form
of the bedridden man, and then she laid her fair, chubby
cheek against his rough beard, keeping her eyes riveted
on the face of the silent parson. She stroked the
matted hair of the uncouth man, and, searching with
her face beneath the shaggy moustache, sought to kiss
his lips. Even the suffering parson could but contrast
the holiness of dawning childhood and the horrible re-
pulsiveness of self-wasted manhood.
The child spoke pleadingly, as she toyed with the
uncouth visage : " Uncle, uncle, speak to me. Uncle
Hardman ; " but the dying sinner, released from silence
by that voice, spoke, not to her, but to the man.
" Come here, Pahson, come here. I ordered Cupe
ter find yo', an' the brack rascal did his duty ; he
said he would send yo' ter me, an' he did. Wall, Pah-
son, bygones es bygones. I riled yo' once, Pahson,
85
Stringtown on the Pike
but I did n't mean half I said, yo' see, Pahson — come
closer — we who air bad hev a kind o' hatred fo' yoah
kind, jest 'case yo' air good an' we air bad ; there ain't
no other reason. An' when the corn-juice gets hold ov
us we say cussed things we always half feel toward the
like ov yo', but don't always speak. Wall, Mr. Jones,
I asks fergiveness now, and aftah yo' does what I wants
yo' ter, then yo' must kneel down, an' pray fo' — come
closer, Jones. I ain't strong now an' I can't speak loud.
I swore at yo' once, Pahson, an' said yo' dare n't wet
yoah shoe soles in ice water ; yo' hev beaten the words
back."
Mr. Jones moved slowly, painfully across the floor.
The girl in fear clung closer to the sick man ; the par-
son saw by the nearer view that the child was very beau-
tiful, and also by that nearer view perceived that the man
became more hideous.
" Pahson," continued the sick man, " in a trunk in
the loft above es money, gol' an' silver — a fortune. I
hev seen some ov et, Mr. Jones, gol' es there. Cupe
says my grandad captured et from a British paymaster
an' hid et in the chist ; but et don't make no dift'ence
wha' et came from ; et ain't safe ter ask quistions ov any
dollah. All I own, land an' money, all but two thou-
san' dollars, the girl must hev ; write et down quick,
Pahson, write et down."
" Where is the paper, pen or pencil ? " Mr. Jones
asked.
" I hev been raised with the niggers an' by the
niggers, too. Nevah had no use fo' papah an' pencil."
" Then I cannot do what you wish," said the parson.
" But yo' must do et ; did n't the jedge say the night
I burned the deed that I must make a writin' will ?
Ain't this child ter be taken care ov an' the boy ter be
86
Into the Storm passed the Minister
given money ter edycate him ? Yo' must write et down,
Pahson," he pleaded ; " the end ov the nigger spell es
here, the nigger spell thet linked yo' an' me tergethah,
Mr. Jones, an' yo' must write. I can't talk no longer,
fo' I am very tired."
" I left my note-book and pencil behind me ; I
cannot."
" Can't you write on a slate, mister ? " asked the girl ;
" I can."
" She can't write ; she knows her letters, but calls
makin' pictures writin'," interrupted the " Corn Bug."
" I can write, and I 've got a slate full of writin',"
protested the child.
" Where is the slate ? " asked the parson ; " give it to
me quickly."
The child ran to a corner of the room and returned
with a slate to which a pencil was attached by a string.
" There, mister, see the writin'," and she pointed to
the child drawings with which one side of it was covered.
But the parson could not use the pencil ; his fingers
refused to obey his will ; he was helpless.
" Write," said the " Corn Bug," " write, Pahson, er
I will die without makin' my cross. See, mahn'n es
comin', et es daylight now, an' Cupe's nigger sign said
thet with this mahn'n's light I would die. Quick,
Pahson, I want ter make my cross."
By an effort Mr. Jones pressed the slate between his
wrists. " Make your letters, child, as I tell you to do."
And obedient to his command, she slowly spelled, letter
by letter, word by word, the shortest will on record in
Stringtown County, to which as witness the pastor
managed to sign his name. " Now for your cross-
mark."
The dying man seized the pencil, and as he did so
S7
Stringtown on the Pike
the old crone arose, and advancing from out the chim-
ney jamb (for she was the shadow), stood over him and
said, partly as an apology, partly to herself, " I'se
a nigger, but ef signin' ob papahs am t' be done, I
wants t' see de makin' ob de cross. Cupe, he say,
' Dinah, doan yo' nebbah let no signin' ob papahs be
done by Ma'se lessen yo' sees de makin' ob de cross.' "
With the negro crone on one side and the child on
the other, the " Corn Bug " made the cross ; and then
his partly relieved mind reverted to the future.
" Would yo' pray fo' the likes ov me, Pahson ? "
But the parson, too weak to rise, near to eternity as
was the " Corn Bug," shook his head, and murmured,
" I cannot, I dare not."
" Can't you pray, Mr. Preacher ? " asked the girl ;
" why, I can say the prayer my mother left me."
" Pray for both of us, child," murmured the parson
with a last effort. Kneeling upon the puncheon floor,
with her little hands clasped and her child-like face
turned upward, the girl interceding for the dying profli-
gate and the wretched murderer lisped the simple prayer:
Now we lay us down to sleep,
We pray thee, Lord, our souls to keep ;
If we should die before we wake,
We pray thee, Lord, our souls to take.
But neither of the men heard the end of the touching
invocation •, before the words were hushed the spirits of
both had broken their bonds and followed the message to
the bar of justice.
The morning light suffused the room, the break of
the bitter cold Friday morning, January ist, 1864. The
rising sun's rays paled the fire-flash ; the shadows van-
88
Into the Storm passed the Minister
ished ; the wild winds subsided, and excepting the biting
cold without and the frozen creatures scattered over all
the land, no evidence remained to tell of the storm which
had come and gone. When the door of that lonely
cabin was opened by the searchers — for searchers
started from Stringtown with the break of day — they
found the negress hovering over the embers on the
hearth, folding in her embrace a sleeping girl. In the
rude room, on the bed one man lay, and beside the bed
another man kneeled, while between them, tightly clasped
in the stiff fingers of him who kneeled, a child's slate
rested. Over the upturned surface of this slate awk-
ward words were scrawled, and at the tip of the index
finger of the man on the bed, him who clutched the
pencil, they saw the sign of the cross.
I will to
Sammy
Drew, the
widow's son
, two th
ousand dol-
lars. All
else to
Susie, my
adopted child.
Joseph
Hardman.
His X
Witness
Osmond Jones.
89
CHAPTER XII
" LOOK OUT FO' DE RED-HEAD BOY "
THE spring of 1864 came and passed, the summer's
sun mounted into the heavens and shone bright
and hot. Nature and man seemed intent on covering
and removing as quickly as possible all traces of the
disastrous storm that closed the year 1863 and ushered
in 1864. Twisted and broken trees sent out new
sprouts, which quickly shrouded the staring scars and
wounds. The balmy south loaned new songsters to
lurk in thickets that had risen again from where, on that
fateful night, brush and briar had been beaten against
the earth. The prolific rabbit had multiplied until once
more its tracks were seen in the dust of the pike. The
dove and the yellow-hammer, during the cruel cold spell
following the storm, had left their haunts and sought the
barnyard to sit in huddles upon the fence, and feed with
the farmer's fowls about the feet of domestic animals ;
but now again the one walked with nodding head in
the pike dust, while the other pecked and thumped
merrily upon the topmost bough of the dead beech in
the forest. Nature in the flush of summer had forgotten
the painful touch of the dismal winter ; and when in the
early spring men collected the scattered rails and rebuilt
their fences, cleaned up the broken timber, and burned
the useless brush and limbs, they too lent a hand in the
great scheme of repair ushered in by the lengthening
days and strengthening power of the sun's rays. Before
90
''Look out fo' de Red-head Boy"
the month of May had passed, scarcely a memento was
left to tell of the hurricane that brought distress and
disaster to a continent. Still, an occasional reminder
could be found imbedded in the luxuriant grass near
Stringtown ; bleaching bones that but for the storm of
New Year, 1864, might yet have been flesh-clad, were
familiar to the sight.
I stood beside Cupe in the valley of a meadow ; a
weather-worn skeleton cumbered the ground at our feet.
Through the strewn ribs crept the heads of a bunch of
young iron-weeds. The vine of a wild potato threaded
the eyes of the bleaching skull ; the long grass fringed
about and pierced through and through the articulated
vertebras ; a shin-bone with hoof attached moulded on
the sward. I gave the shin bone a push with my bare
foot, and a swarm of ants, uncovered by the act, scam-
pered from beneath, each with a white larva in its
mouth. I laughed aloud and beat the frightened insects
with a stick ; the moist earth became a pulp of strug-
gling limbs and bodies mixed with loam, and under the
rain of blows the slaughtered innocents were lost in
common ruin.
The black man seemed not to observe the act; he
gave no heed to my multi-crime, but mumbled over his
thoughts :
'' De co'ht am not fo' niggers, 'case niggers ain't
white. Ef a white man am drunk an' a fool, he kin
sw'ah away de life ob a nigger ; ef a nigger am sobah he
ain't got sense 'nufF 'cordin' to de co'ht t' tell what he
knows. What 's de use ob Cupe goin' t' co'ht, an'
tellin' de truf 'bout de will ob Ma'se ? Cupe am a
nigger, an' Dinah am a nigger too." ^
1 Negroes were permitted to testify in Kentucky if negroes only
were concerned, but in cases where the interests of whites were af-
fected, they were excluded.
91
Stringtown on the Pike
" Dinah saw your master sign his name to the will,"
said I.
" But she am a nigger, an' et doan make no difF'ence
what she saw ; she am brack, an' de co'ht doan take her
nigger talk."
" Ain't it queer about that money ? "
" Dah ain't nuffin p'culiar 'bout et. De witches an'
sperrits wah out dat night. Fo' de Lawd, when Cupe
go fo' de doctah de ebenin' ob de storm, de gol' wah all
in de chist. When de const'ble take p'session ob dat
chist nex' day — dah war n't nuffin' t' be seen."
The old negro leaned over and gazed intently on the
object at his feet. He rested one foot on the skull, and
whispered: "Dah ain't no use in fightin' Prov'dence ;
de sign say dat de gol' wah fo' de gearl, an', will er no
will, et am fo' de gearl. Chile, chile, de sperrits what
make de sign kin carry 'way de gol'.
*' Ya, ya," he added, in a hoarse whisper, " es easy es
t' pint t' what 's com'n' t'-morrah ; an' gloomy am de
sign what pint t' Cupe an' yo' ! "
He intent on his soliloquy, I absorbed in listening,
alike were oblivious to the approach of two men on
horseback, who, leading a third horse saddled, but rider-
less, having entered the field from the woods road, neared
our position. A stick snapping beneath the hoof of one
of the horses caused me to raise my head, but the noise
appeared not to attract the attention of my companion.
The old negro did not raise his eyes from the face of the
skull, but in a monotonous undertone said : " Dah am
troubl' fo' Cupe an' yo' too, boy; et am in de air an'
am com'n' fas.' Tole Dinah t' take good care ob de
Susie gearl when Cupe am gone, an' Sammy Drew, yo'
look out fo* de Red- Head Boy."
Having ridden to within a few steps of us, one of the
92
"Look out fo' de Red-Head Bo
V
men alighted, produced a legal paper, placed his hand on
the shoulder of Cupe (who now for the first time gazed
in his direction) and said: "By order of the Court I
am commanded to arrest you, Cupid Hardman, and
secure your person in the county jail."
Old Cupe made no reply. The sheriff pointed to
the empty saddle. The black man's stolid face gave no
evidence of emotion ; unmoved, he repeated his former
words in a low tone.
"Tole Dinah t' take good care ob Susie, an' yo' look
out fo' de Red-Head Boy." Then he slowly mounted the
horse. The three turned and rode away.
93
CHAPTER XIII
THE ARREST OF CUPE
MOTIONLESS I stood over the dismembered skel-
eton. Forgotten was the soliloquy of the aged
negro, out of mind his story of the past. To a child the
name of the law is sacred ; in a boy's mind an officer of
the law stands exalted, above and beyond the ordinary hu-
man. Slowly the three men on horseback receded in the
distance, while I gazed at them with hand-shaded eyes.
Their horses walked with downcast heads through the
long meadow grass, but when the fence that bounded
the woods-road was reached and the bars were " put up"
a brisk pace replaced the walk, and soon the figures dis-
appeared. Neither of the men cast a look backward ;
not even when waiting for the dismounted officer to
replace the bars did Cupe give a glance in my direction.
Just before their forms vanished in the shadows of the
drooping beeches a melodious howl arose in the dis-
tance — a cry that one who has heard the notes of a
Southern darkey's dog can appreciate — and all was still
again. Then, and not until then, did I move, but as
the three passed into the depths of the forest I turned and
followed a sheep path that led in the opposite direction —
across the meadow, around the neck of a tangled thicket,
through a woodland pasture, where, mounting a slight
hill, I came within sight of a log cabin that rested on the
slope beyond the summit. Bare and desolate, the trunk
of a tall, shell-bark hickory tree, with top broken off fifty
94
The Arrest of Cupe
feet from the eaith, stood near by, a relic of the New
Year storm ! A square enclosure in the garden behind
the house was marked by a group of little mounds, on
one of which, shaded by a cedar tree, the grass was
younger and of a brighter green than on the others ; these
were the most conspicuous objects about the cabin.
An aged negress, her head bound in a red bandanna
handkerchief, sat inside, with a child on her knee. She
was combing the long, dark locks of the little girl, at the
same time singing in a rasping tone a weird ditty that
only persons reared by or among the blacks could have
understood. Unseen, I stood silent, looking at the two
figures ; but my shadow striking across the floor caused
the old woman to turn quickly.
" Come in off dat doah-sill ! What fo' yo' dare do
sech a fool ting es t' come t' a fren's house an' stop in
de open doah ? Yo' bring trouble on de fam'ly suah by
sech actin' up."
" Yes," I said, " there is trouble. Aunt Dinah."
" Come in off dat doah-sill, I tole yo', an' took a
cheer. Doan make de trouble wussah dan it am, ef
dah am trouble on yoah min'."
I entered the room and seated myself on a shuck-
bottomed chair.
" Now fo' yoah trouble. What am it ? "
" Cupe has been arrested."
The old negress dropped her comb and gazed at me
in wonder.
"Spoke ag'in, chile."
" Cupe has been arrested."
"What fool stufF yo' gibin' me? What fo' should
Cupe be 'rested ? De chicken house am full ob fowl,
de pastyah am alibe wid sheep an' pigs, de turkey talk
all day t' de grasshoppah, an' de guiney-hen cry ' pot-
95
Stringtown on the Pike
rack, pot-rack ' all night 'roun' dis cabin. De bah'l ob
flour an' de meal sack am full, an' de fat sides an' de
hams am drippin' grease in de smokehouse. What
moah do any nigger wan' ? What lyin' fool wah et
who 'rest Cupe ? "
" The sheriff of the county."
" Lawd ! Lawd ! but wah it not de const'ble ? "
" No, it was the sheriff."
" Fo' de Lawd, de case am ser'ous, suah ! De
sheriff don't trabel 'bout cotchin' niggers what grab a
chicken fo' de toofache."
Gradually the gravity of the case dawned upon the
mind of the old crone, but only to increase her inco-
herent wrath. She engaged in a tirade of abuse, ques-
tionings and jabberings in which the sheriff, the law, the
liars (unknown) who had defamed Cupe, and lastly poor
old Cupe himself, came in each for a full share of
vituperation.
Finding myself neglected, I turned to depart ; but now
the negress, quieting her jargon as suddenly as she had
begun, said : " Yo' mus' eat a bite, chile. Dinah mus'n'
fergit her mannahs even ef yo' did bring trouble. Sit a
minit an' eat a bite."
"I didn't bring trouble. Aunt Dinah; the trouble
came before I saw you."
" Did n't yo' come t' a fren's house an' stan' in dc
open doah ? "
" Yes, but that did not make the trouble, for Cupe
was arrested before I came,"
" Yo' doanknow nuifin' 'bout sech tings an' yo' ain't
golified t' speak. De doah-sill sign kin work boff
ways. Ef a ting es, et es, an' fool argyments ob pussons
what doan know de sign's powah can't change de fac's.
Doan yo' stan' on de doah-sill, I axes ? "
96
The Arrest of Cupe
"Yes."
" Doan de trouble come ? "
« Yes, but — "
" De sign wah workin' backward, chile ; close yo'
mouf wid dese wittles."
She quickly placed a dish of honey, a loaf of salt-
rising light bread and a glass of milk upon the clean
table, and once more I ate in that cabin which it seemed
my footsteps could not evade. The girl sat quietly and
eyed me ; did she remember my former visit ? During
the repast I gave Dinah full particulars concerning
Cupe's arrest.
As I arose to depart Dinah asked : " An' what word
did Cupe send t' Dinah ? "
" He said : ' Tell Dinah to take good care of the
Susie child.' "
Dinah seemed pleased with the trust ; then she
whispered : " An' what did he say to yo', chile ? "
" He told me to ' Beware of the Red-Head Boy,' but
I don't know what he meant."
" Yo' will know some day, honey ; yo' will know to
yoah sorrah some day."
She leaned over and spoke in a low, guttural tone :
" De day ob trouble am com'n', an' de Red-Head Boy
am mixed in de ebil sign. Cupe read de omen, an' et
say dat de Red-Head Boy an' Susie an' yo,' chile, am
edgin' on t' sahtin deff. Et say dat de Red-Head Boy '11
die sudden an' dat yo' an' Susie '11 be de cause ; an' dat
yo '11 die sudden, an' dat de Red-Head Boy an' Susie 'II
be de cause."
" How did he read it, Aunt Dinah ? "
" He read et in de glass, de sign glass what p'ints t' de
act dat ain't been acted."
" And what of Susie, Aunt Dinah ? "
7 97
Stringtown on the Pike
" De sighn wah monstrous cu'yus 'bout de gearl. Cupe
read de omen twice ; et wah monstrous cu'yus."
"Tell me about it, Dinah."
" De honey gearl wah alibe suah, but folks looks at
her es ef she wah dead. She wah suah alibe, an' she
wah dead."
" How could she be alive and dead, too ? "
" Dat am what trouble Cupe. De sign say she am
dead an' dat she am gone out ob de worl', but suah she
am still alibe. She wah walkin' an' a talkin' aftah de
sign p'int t' her bein' gone from out de worl'. Dere
wah a shaddah on de face ob de glass, de shaddah ob a
great big Cross."
" You 're fooling, Aunt Dinah ; how could each of
us boys and Susie be the cause of the death of one
another? That cannot be."
" Deed, chile, I ain't foolin', et am de p'intin' ob de
sign. Et can't be done, yo' say, but de sign say et mus'
be done, an' Cupe say et will be done. But de omen
say dat befo' de fulfilment ob de spell in de time t' come
de Red-Head Boy mus' sit alone in de cabin ob Susie.
Lis'en, chile ; dah ain't no harm t' come till he sit all
alone in Susie's cheer in de night."
Too well acquainted with the superstitions of the
negroes to consider seriously this prophetic outburst, I
smiled and turned to depart.
The old crone stepped outside the doorway, took me
by the hand, and looked me steadily in the face.
" An' Dinah say too, watch out fo' de Red-Head Boy"
98
CHAPTER XIV
COURT DAY
STRINGTOWN is situated eight miles from the
" county seat " of Stringtown County, where stood
the county jail. In order to reach this important spot,
the traveller from Stringtown follows the Mt. Carmel
pike to Mt. Carmel Church, and then branches to the
Turkey Foot road, which follows a creek bed four miles
to its source. On the summit of this rise stands the
village honoured by holding the court-house of Stringtown
County.
Like other county seats in Kentucky, at the time
under consideration this was subject several times a year
to the flow and ebb of a human tide. The tide was
high in Court week, but during the intermediate periods
stagnation prevailed.
At the time of Quarterly Court, in June, from every
section of the county, on the first day of Court week,
men on horseback could be seen " going to Court."
These as a rule started in pairs, or parties of three or
four ; but as they journeyed onward the byways merged
into main roads and the isolated groups upon them co-
alesced until, when the village was reached, a steady
stream of horsemen came pouring into its main avenue.
In this county seat, even to the very day before Court
convened, stagnation ruled supreme. The two grocery
stores were open for traffic between Court periods, but
99
Stringtown on the Pike
attracted none but home patrons ; the two taverns were
ready for business, but even their bar-rooms were quiet
and the long rows of shed stalls adjacent to each tavern
were empty, and the horse racks in front of the groceries
and the taverns were vacant. The court-house, built
like a church, excepting that it was the proud possessor
of a second story and four whitewashed round brick pil-
lars in front, stood, the day before Court, with closed
eyes ; the iron gate was locked, the pepper-grass and
shepherd's-purse grew high and luxuriant between the
flat-rock paving stones, and the dog-fennel covered the
edges and far into the street unmolested even about
the long rows of horse racks that bounded " Court-
House Square."
In the early morning, each hot summer day, a little
business was done in each store ; the barkeepers found
occasion to wash a few glasses and bruise a little mint ;
the barefooted boy drove his cow to and from the pas-
ture, and a smell of frying ham or bacon and browning
corn-bread or biscuit hung at breakfast time about each
residence. But as the sun mounted into the sky a uni-
versal lethargy settled over the scorching village, and
not until the slanting shadows of evening fell did life
reappear.
The idle sojourner might spend his time in this lazy
village, and between Court periods, even to the day
before Court, find nothing more exciting than an occa-
sional dog fight, unless, perchance, it were a quarrel
between the owners of the dogs.
Lazily the sun came up the day before Court ; lazily
the inhabitants of this sluggish village moved, when they
did move ; lazily the stray pig meandered along the side
of the unpaved streets, picking up an occasional morsel ;
lazily a flock of gabbling geese waddled through the
100
Court Day
dusty road seeking the nearly dried creek bed adjacent
to the village ; lazily the unshaven barkeeper, with closed
eyes, sat before the inn on the flat stone pavement in his
tipped-back chair. One could not easily have found a
creature in this village that was not infected by the lazy
sun, which, day after day, crept through the sky and
leisurely sank toward the earth into the tree tops, glow-
ing a second through the branches, seemingly undeter-
mined whether it were not best to pause awhile upon
earth's edge before dropping over and rolling out of
sight.
Opening of Court day brought a change. Bustle in
and confusion about the tavern. The long dining-room
tables were " set " by break of day ; the kitchen stove
was red and furious, the negro servants moved as if they
actually enjoyed motion ; piles of vegetables, a quarter of
beef and several boiled hams spoke of the coming feast.
The freshly shaven barkeeper, with freshly filled bottles
and a pile of freshly cleaned glasses, no longer sat beside
the door in the tipped-back chair ; he too was ready for
action. The iron gates that barred the main entrance
of the court-house yard were open and the windows to
that " Hall of Justice " were unshuttered. Even the
stray geese had moved to other scenes, the wandering
pig had not been loosed that morning, and the boy had
come and gone with his cow before the sun had risen.
The village was awake and the very buildings themselves
took on a different air — the residents were in touch
with life again and eager for the coming fray. The
word fray is not inappropriate, for many were the men
who had ridden to this court-house on horseback and
returned home in an improvised spring wagon hearse ;
many have been the feuds that, argued in the Court of
Stringtown County's capital by the mouths of the law-
lOi
Stringtown on the Pike
yers, have been settled, immediately after the Court
adjourned, in the street by the mouths of pistols.
Men came to Court, antagonists led to enmity by
some trifling incident, and grouped themselves into clus-
ters ; one clan went to Jim White's tavern, the other
went to Jo Sweet's. They stood in separate groups about
the streets, and scowled, but did not speak when first
they chanced to meet ; they visited their respective bar-
rooms again, and grew surlier and thought meaner
things with each uplifted glass ; now they growled when
group met group and looked defiantly at each other ;
another visit to the tavern, and when the antagonistic
groups next came together their tongues were loosened,
pistols flashed in the sunlight, and another " case " was
made for the opposing lawyers to beat the air over at
the next term of Court.
102
CHAPTER XV
STRINGTOWN JAIL
INTO Stringtown County Seat from the flat Creek
road the three horsemen rode leisurely towards the
county jail. As they passed, a boy swinging on a grape-
vine that dangled from a hackberry tree near the first
house by the roadside gave a yell that carried with it the
information that only a country boy can put into a
wordless cry. Immediately from the house a number
of faces peered, some black, others white, and yet, aside
from the cry of the boy, no other voice was heard.
Scampering from his place, he ran after the passing
horsemen, following their footsteps in the dust ; the yell
of the boy was repeated as house after house was neared,
and a flash of faces could be seen in the windows -, an
occasional female form, perhaps with broom in hand as
an excuse for outdoor appearance, stood motionless on
the front porch ; a gathering of boys thronged about
the heels of the horsemen, and old Cupe, well known
to every person of that village, became the centre of
attraction.
Time and again had he ridden on horseback into that
village unnoticed ; but now, he was stared at by men and
women, followed by hooting boys and preceded by
snarling dogs, for each boy owned a dog, which, as his
young master fell into line, sprang from cover and
joined the four-footed advance-guard. Thus Cupe,
103
Stringtown on the Pike
with his snow-white beard, his bleached woolly pate,
his shiny, wrinkled face, his garments of patches of
many colours, was ushered to the jail of Stringtown
County. The troop of snapping dogs, that included in
its membership every species, from a short, bench-legged
fice to one gaunt coon hound, moved in front; on either
side of the prisoner rode an officer of the law, while
behind came the troop of urchins, black and white.
The advance-guard needed no director ; on they went
to the blind street that led to the county-jail ; into this
the troop of dogs turned, and simultaneously arranged
themselves about the entrance to the jail. Too well did
they, dumb brutes as they were, know the ending of the
journey of these horsemen. Then, amid the clustering
of boys and dogs, the three horsemen dismounted and
pressed their way through the gaping crowd. A heavy
knocking at the door brought the " Innkeeper," who
signed a paper handed him by the sheriff; the form of
the black man vanished within the gloomy structure ;
the two officers remounted, and, leading the riderless
horse, turned back toward the world without ; the boys
and dogs scampered after them, and the back street was
vacated by every creature — with one exception. The
great, gaunt, old coon hound, with lank sides, made no
movement when the others departed ; he stood with
drooping ears and uplifted nose silently facing the door
by which the negro had entered. His nostrils sniffed
the air, his ungainly tail slowly wagged back and forth,
his long, red tongue lolled from between two ivory incis-
ors, and from its tip an occasional drop of spittle fell
upon the earth. Motionless he stood with eyes set upon
the grim door; and then, closing them, he pointed his
nose straight upward, and from his throat a long, plain-
tive howl arose that, beginning low and weird, reached
104
Stringtown Jail
to a height seldom heard from hound's throat, and then,
descending, died away in plaintive sadness. Again the
dog howled and listened ; and not hearing a reply, again,
louder than before, he bayed the silent door. This last
appeal seemed to bring an answer, but one that human
ear could not have caught. Turning from his place,
the animal crossed the narrow street and carefully
selected a bed of thick dog-fennel beneath a clump of
wild black-currant bushes, turned "three times 'round,"
sinking each time lower than before, and then dropped
upon the earth and curled himself into a heap, where
with eyes closed, his sentinel nose pointing toward the
new home of his old master, he lay motionless.
The jailer conducted Cupe to the second story of the
jail and halted before one of the back cells.
" Ef et am pert'nent t' de yocasion," said Cupe,
" befo' yo' go t' de trouble ob openin' de doah, de pris'nah
ud ax a quistion."
" Certainly," said the jailer.
" Fo' some fo'ks dis heah room am all dat kin be
'spected, but fo' me, ef et am de same t' yo', a front
room am moah t' de taste."
The jailer thrust his key into the lock.
"Yo' know bery well dat Cupe am not gwine t' make
yo' no trouble, an' he doan ax no — " the negro stopped,
put his hand to his ear, as if listening to a sound un-
heard bv the jailer — it was the mournful howl of his
old hound — then gave a sharp, penetrating whistle, and
continued his sentence — " lux'ry. Ef de front room
am empty, et won't cost yo' nuffin' moah t' open an'
lock dat doah instead ob dis heah doah. A doah am a
doah t' de man what opens it, but dah am reasons t' de
man what rests in de room fo' wantin' t' be behind one
doah instead ob 'nuddah."
105
Stringtown on the Pike
" Well, I don't see what 's the use of growling at this
room," said the jailer.
" De fac' am, Ma'se Kindum," said the negro, quick
to observe that in getting a reply he had gained a point,
" dat Cupe am not growlin' at de room, but at de place
de room sits in. Ef de sunshine an' de moonlight could
come into de room yo' hab s'lected fo' Cupe, dah
would n't be no sort ob argyment. But Cupe hab seen
de sunshine an' de moonlight all ob his life, an' he doan
know jes how long a spell he '11 be heah. Yo' hab
knowed Uncle Cupe sense yo' wah a chile, Ma'se Kin-
dum ; yoah chllluns know him too, an' doan knows no
hahm ob him needah."
The jailer withdrew the key, led Cupe to the front of
the building and opened one of the two front rooms.
With tattered hat in hand the negro bowed and cour-
tesied as only one of the old black uncles of Kentucky
could do, but his profuse thanks were largely lost upon
the jailer, who without a word turned and departed.
Stepping to the barred window, Cupe remarked : " De
sunshine an' de moonlight am monstrous thin when dese
heah windahs am considahd, an' et am cut inter slices
by de iron bars, but Cupe hain't done nufHn' t' make
him afeard ob light what shine cleah in de sky er froo
cross bars eider. 'Sides, he wan' t' talk t' his fren' ; "
and pressing his sable face against the bars old Cupe gazed
intently up and down the street. " Et am monstrous
strange," he murmured, " ef Dgawge Wash'n't'n hab
gone back on Cupe." Presently his aged eyes caught
sight of a weed in the opposite fence corner that, as his
voice sounded, began to vibrate as if uniform blows were
being struck upon it, and peering at the clump of dog-
fennel at its base he made out the curled-up form of his
faithful dog, who, with beating tail, raised nose and open
io6
Stringtown Jail
eyes, was staring at the face of his master. " Yo' am
only a dawg," said Cupe, " but yo' may hab work t' do,
Dgawge Wash'n't'n, befo' yoah teef git dull ; put yoah
head down an' stop yoah tail, an' keep yoah strength
ready fo' de time ob need."
107
CHAPTER XVI
CUPE IN JAIL
THUS the jail life of these two friends began ; one
contented outside the bars, chained by love to him
within the cell ; the other, seemingly not less contented,
behind the grating. Loquacious Cupe and howling
" Dgawge Wash'n't'n " both grew silent under the con-
ditions of their fate. The negro became sullen and
refused to talk concerning his " case " ; and all the
spirit seemed to have left the dog, who lived on day after
day seemingly without food, but only seemingly, for the
hound of Kentucky knows how to prowl at night. An
attorney had been provided by the Court to defend
Cupe, but the old darkey declined positively, although
politely, to answer any question or make any statement
beyond the fact that " es the Co'ht did n't git no 'vice
from him t' begin wid et did n't need none t' end wid.
Ef de Co'ht doan know its own business, et ain't fo'
Cupe t' teach et."
" But my object is to help you."
" Then, Mr. Lawyer, yo' may es well spar' yoah
breff, fo' Cupe doan need no help. He hain't done
nuffin' t' be 'scused fo', he hain't stolen noh hid no
money, an' he doan 'tend t' hab no 'scuses made by
lawyahs fo' what he hain't done."
" But you admit that the money was stolen ? "
"Yo' am de man what say so — not me. Ef Cupe
io8
Cupe in Jail
had said de money wah stolen he would help find de
t'ief. But de fac's am Cupe doan 'tend t' 'fy Prov'dence.
De law am mighty, but de spell an' de sign am mightier,
an' yo' kin tear dis nigger's eyes out befo' he will cross
de workin' ob de sacred spell. De money am gone, Mr,
Lawyer, et am not t' be seen, an' et will stay gone until
de sign come right fo' et t' come back."
" If the sign don't come right before Court opens, you
will go to Frankfort Penitentiary, Cupe."
" Dah am honest men in de penitentiary an' t'ieves
loose on de outside, Mr. Lawyer, an' yo' can't make
Cupe try t' sarcumvent de signs by no sech argyment es
dat."
The days passed. A few weeks would bring the con-
vening of the Court. Not one word would Cupe say
concerning the problem as to the disappearance of the
money, that much-talked-about gold. At last the per-
plexed lawyer conferred with Judge Elford, of String-
town, concerning the case, and that personage made a
visit to the jail and appealed to the stubborn prisoner.
He was ushered into the cell of his humble friend, who
appeared to be very much surprised at the honour ex-
tended by the unexpected visitor, but quickly recovering
his wonted presence of mind, his first act was to apolo-
gise for the barrenness of his temporary residence.
" Yo' mus' 'scuse de poverty ob de s'r'ndings, Ma'se
Elford, 'case de fittin's ob de room am fo' pussons what
doan keer fo' lux'ries. Ef yo' had 'nounced de fac' dat
yo' 'tended t' call, de conveniences would hab been sech
es de yocasion demands."
" Never mind the room, Cupe ; I came to talk with
you."
" 'Deed, Ma'se, yo' 'sprise de ole nigger ; take de
cheer."
109
Stringtown on the Pike
The judge seated himself in the only chair the cell
afforded, and Cupe stood expectant before him.
"Cupe, your attorney informs me that you refused to
give him information concerning the lost money. Now
you know that I am your friend, and I have come from
Stringtown expressly to advise you to tell everything you
know about it."
"Yo' am my fren', Ma'se Elford, 'deed yo' is, an'
Cupe hab known yo' sense yoah muddah held yo' on her
knee. When Cupe first saw yo', yo' wah a baby in de
ahm, an' now yoah hair am white."
"True, Cupid, true."
" An' no man in all dis county ebah say a word ob
wrong 'g'inst yo', Ma'se Elford. Yo' am a fren' t'
Cupe, yo' say, an' Cupe say, no bettah fren' could Cupe
hab."
" Then, Cupe, do as I direct and befriend yourself."
"An' what do yo' 'vise ? "
" Tell your attorney all you know concerning this
matter. You are in a serious position and in great
danger of going to the penitentiary for life."
" Yo' doan mean it, Ma'se Elford ? " Cupe said
appealingly.
" Yes, I mean that unless you tell all you know and
assist in recovering this money it will be my painful duty
to sentence you to the penitentiary."
" Et ain't de pen'tensh'ry, Cupe don't keer fo' de pen'-
tensh'ry, it am de sah'ful 'vice yo' gib. What hab Cupe
done t' yo', Ma'se, fo' t' make yo' ax him t' steal ? "
" Cupe ! " exclaimed the astonished man, " I ask you
to steal ! What do you mean ? "
" De money am not fo' Cupe, et am not fo' de law-
yah, et am fo' de chile. De spell say so, an' whoevah
bre'k de workin' ob de spell steal from de poo' chile.
I lO
Cupe in Jail
Ma'se, yo' memberlec' de day dat Cupe wait on de table
when yoah wed'in' wah ? "
" Yes."
" An' yo' memberlec' when de missus yo' lub wah
buried in de earf, he stan' by de grabe wid de strap in his
han'. Yo' memberlec' what Cupe say den ? Es de
pahson read out ob de good book an' close de page an'
raise his eyes an' say, ' Earf to earf an' dust to dust,' de
shaddah ob a cloud rise sudden like, an' de great drops
ob rain spattah obah de coffin lid, an' dey keeps a-fallin'
while de shiney coffin case wah bein' sot down into de
grabe, an' when Cupe rise up from holdin' de head-strap
yo' wah lookin' inte' Cupe's face. An' den what did
Cupe say ? "
" ' Blessed are the dead the rain falls on,' " replied the
Judge. " I remember very well how you said that to
me then."
"An' so do Cupe. An' when Cupe comes t' die,
Ma'se, he doan wan' no ebil sign t' follow him inte' de
tome."
" Of course not, Cupe."
" Ma'se, yo' 'spect t' go t' meet de sweet gearl de rain
fell on when yo' kneel in de yallah dirt an' bow de
head ? "
• " God knows I do, Cupe."
" An' what hab Cupe done dat yo' should ax him t'
go t' de debbil — what hab de ole nigger done t' yo',
Ma'se Elford ? "
"Nothing, Cupid — nothing. I know too well your
faithful heart to see you suffer as you surely must unless
you assist the law in clearing up this mystery, which I
firmly believe you can do."
" Ma'se Elford, Cupe kin 'scuse yo' de sin yo' ax
Cupe t' do 'case yo' doan know what Cupe know an'
II I
Stringtown on the Pike
can't see de ebil ob yoah words ; but, de gol' am fo' de
gearl, an' t' dat yinnercent chile it mus' go. De spell
am workin' out 'cordin' t' de sign, an' ef de law pull
Cupe's arm an' leg off, ef et buhn de flesh an' scotch de
bone ob de ole nigger, no word will he say t' blame yo'.
Ef yo' be de jedge t' hab et done, no cry shall come
from Cupe. But when yo' ax Cupe t' bre'k de workin'
ob de sacred spell yo' raise de debbil t' burn de nigger's
soul. De sweet missus what die wid her han' in Cupe's
han', in de long day back, an' a troop ob angels, am on
de uddah shore, an' when Cupe lay down an' die, an'
his sperrit go t' de shinin' Ian' he mus' say t' de angel
missus, ' Cupe did his duty by de chile yo' left, an' he
Stan' faithful by de chile Susie what come in his place.'
Ma'se Elford, yo' am pow'ful welcome in de present
'bidin' place ob Cupe, but ef yo' keer fo' de feelin's ob
de ole brack man, doan ax him t' steal money from de
orfun chile, doan ax him t' lose de sweet smile ob de
deah missus what die in de ole mansion ob de long-ago.
De breezes ob summer am pleasant t' a brack skin, de
sunshine feel good t' de wrinkled face, but de pen'tenshry
am cool, an' de nigger am used t' work, an' ef he die in
de prison standin' up fo' de right ob de orfun, he will
step out ob de prison shade int' de sunshine ob Heaben."
The man of law was abashed and silenced by the
rebuke of the unlettered negro. He saw that no living
man could influence the fanatical slave. Rising, the
judge held out his hand.
" T'ank yo', Ma'se Elford fo' lis'nin' t' de argyment
ob de ole nigger, but et bre'ks his heart t' hab yo' go
widout takin' a drink ob milk er a drop ob sump'n'.
Howsumebbah, yo' will 'scuse de barrenness ob de
yocasion, 'case Cupe did n't 'spect sech comp'ny."
The days passed swiftly. The entire community
112
Cupe in Jail
became deeply interested in the pending trial. The
large sum of money that had disappeared from the iron
chest in Cupe's room the night of the hurricane would
have been a godsend to the attorneys, and the county as
well, could it have been found, for it seemed that the
'' Corn Bug " had left no legal heir. So Cupe's anxious
counsel strove to obtain a confession, apparently for the
purpose of saving the negro from the penitentiary.
" Ef de gol' am gone, et am gone, an' Prov'dence doan
want no nigger t' put in his mouf," persisted Cupe.
The key to the chest had been found on Cupe's person,
indeed he did not deny the fact that the gold had been
in his charge to the date of its disappearance, but still he
disclaimed secreting the money. At last the conviction
became general that, realising that his master could not live
until morning, Cupe had hidden the gold before he had
started for the physician on that fearful New Year night.
Immediately after the visit of Judge Elford his home
was sought by the lank village clerk, who stood nearly
alone in that he believed in Cupe's innocence, and so
expressed himself to the judge, Elford made no de-
claration concerning his own opinion, but said that his
every argument had been used in an endeavour to induce
the old negro to disclose the location of the treasure.
The judge volunteered the information, however, that
Cupe most determinedly resisted every appeal to assist
in clearing himself from suspicion of having committed
the crime. He shook his head when the clerk asked
concerning what might be the result to Cupe in case he
remained steadfast.
"The evidence is circumstantial, but sufficient to con-
vict him."
" And is there no chance ? " asked the self-constituted
champion.
8 113
Stringtown on the Pike
"None," the judge replied; "at least," he added,
" none that his attorney will think about."
The clerk looked up inquisitively.
" No," Elford repeated, " none that will likely be
thought about." He went to his book-case, took from
it a well-worn volume, opened it and laid it on his desk.
Then, as if in answer to a voice calling him, put his
hand to his ear and listened. " I shall return in a few
moments," he remarked, and passed from the room.
There was no intimation in the tone of the judge
that a connection could be drawn between the legal
document he had opened and the case of Cupe.
Apparently the book had been taken from the shelf with
an object that had no bearing on the presence of the
clerk. And yet Mr. Wagner felt that in this book was
the clue that Cupe's attorney would overlook and that
the judge could not honourably mention. He moved
to the open volume, and glanced at the heading of the
page. It was a report of a case in the Barren County
Circuit Court, but the heading was sufficient for the
sharp-eyed and quick-witted clerk, who needed but one
glance, and then, before the judge re-entered, stepped
back to his place.
No allusion was made by either man to the open book.
" Should you like to visit Cupe ? " said the judge ;
" you know him well; perhaps you can draw from him
the secret, and serve the commonwealth where others
have failed."
" Yes," replied the clerk ; " I shall go in the morning."
Judge Elford sat down at his desk and wrote an order.
' Mr. Joseph Kindimi, Keeper of Stringtown County Jail.
" Dear Sir : You will admit the bearer, Mr. Wagner, to
the cell of Cupid Hardman as often as he calls, and permit him
to remain with the prisoner each visit as long as he wishes.
(Signed) II4 "J. B. Elford."
Cupe in Jail
The clerk bowed himself out, the judge closed and
replaced the book, and then sat in meditation. " It is
the only chance for misguided old Cupe, who means no
harm," he murmured ; " God forgive me if I have done a
wrong."
"5
CHAPTER XVII
"too slow fo' a coon an' too fast fo a possum "
A CURIOUS spectacle was that of Mr. Wagner,
who, after his interview with the judge, made
repeated journeys to the prisoner in the Stringtown
county jail. Astride of a mule, his long legs nearly
dragging the earth, the man of music as well as letters
patiently rode back and forth. The order of the judge
gave him immediate access to the cell of Cupe, and his
visits were invariably of extraordinary length. Not a
little curiosity was excited in the mind of the jailer, who,
however, recognising that the order of the judge relieved
him from all responsibility, gave himself no personal
concern. The tongues of the village gossips naturally
were not less active than were their minds ; and every
morsel of evidence, imaginary or otherwise, concerning
Cupe and his secret was chewed threadbare. The case
became renowned. A score of " killings " could not
have excited the interest which this mystery raised.
Cupe was the subject of general comment and specula^
tion, and could he have known the remarks that were
made about him he would — providing he was as vain
and fond of notoriety as at that time were most of his
race — have been a happy " nigger." Of these remarks,
however, he rested in ignorance, occupying his time as
best he could between the interviews to which he was
subjected by his attorney and the visits of his friend, the
Stringtown clerk.
While it is true that his counsel had been appointed
Ii6
fe^
"Too slow fo' a Coon, &c."
to defend him, it was no less true that this same attor-
ney was deeply interested in uncovering the hidden gold.
The lawyer's personal fees would unquestionably be
greater if he could be the means of discovering the
money, and his professional reputation would also be
increased. So, at last, after all attempts to induce the
accused to unbosom himself had failed, he decided that
he would search the garments of the negro for evidence
of some description, for, possibly, Cupe had something
secreted about his person that might shed light upon the
subject. The jailer, on being questioned, said that the
only search, so far, had been of the pockets of the old
slave, and that nothing was found therein save a knife
and some unimportant trinkets. " I shall bring a change
of garments for the old fool," said the lawyer, " and
have the patches of the ragged ones ripped apart."
That afternoon Cupe heard a gentle rap on his door ;
a key was awkwardly thrust into the lock and hesitat-
ingly turned. The door swung back, and in the door-
way stood the youngest child of the jailer, a little boy of
eight. " Uncle Cupe," said the child, " the front door
downstairs is unlocked, and you can go home." The
old darkey patted the urchin's head.
" De sunlight am monstrous sweet, honey, but de
shade am s'lubrous, chile. Who tole yo' t' open de
doah fo' Cupe .? "
" I jest heard pap and the lawyer talk and say that
this would be the last day you would be here, and I
thought I would let you out."
" Yo' did, chile, yo' did ! an' so it am t' be de las'
day ! Go back, honey, an' doan yo' nebbah open no
uddah jail doahs ; keep yoah han' oft' de key."
" You are goin' to have a new suit of clothes. Uncle
Cupe."
117
Stringtown on the Pike
" Who tole yo' so, chile ? Cupe doan wan' no new
clo's."
" Mr. Putter will bring them to-day, and take away
your old patches."
" Take de key out ob dat doah, chile, an' hang et
back on de hook yo' took it from an' doan yo' say
nuffin t' nobody 'bout tryin' t' let Cupe out ob de jail,
'case yoah pap won't like t' hab yo' tole it. Shet de
doah, honey, Cupe am bery comfor'ble heah, fo' de
shade am good fo' de 'plexion." The negro again
patted the head of the innocent little one and gently
closed the door. The key was turned, withdrawn, and
silence reigned again in the cell of Cupe, who stood for
a time meditatively.
" An' so dey gwine t' take 'way de ole clo's, an' fo'
what? Dah ain't no use in runnin' no risk, Cupe;
bettah yo' fix de mattah now."
Stepping to the grated window, he cast a glance across
the street. " Yo' am in yoah place, Dgawge Wash'n't'n ;
am yo' ready fo' yoah duty ? " The dog raised his
head, stood upright and cast a joyful glance at his mas-
ter. " Stan' still till I tole yo' t' come, Dgawge — stan'
still."
Grasping the knee of one leg of his trousers with his
hand, old Cupe gave a bright yellow patch a jerk that
tore it from the brown garment beneath, which, strangely
enough, proved to be perfectly sound. Then he opened
a slit in one edge of the patch and removed from it a
tiny iron key. " Yo' is safe now, but yo' will be safah
wid Dinah," said he ; then he replaced the key in the
fragment of cloth and rolling it compactly, tied the
package firmly with a string that was drawn from
beneath another patch. Stepping to the barred window
again, Cupe spoke to the dog, who, expectant, stood
Ii8
"Too slow fo' a Coon, &c."
in the position he had assumed upon first hearing the
voice of his master.
" Come heah, Dgawge," said Cupe ; " yo' hab work
t' do now ; come heah, yo' houn'." The dog advanced
slowly, until he stood with upturned face beneath the
little window. "Yo' see dis heah jew'l ? " said Cupc,
holding the roll beneath the bars ; the dog gave a low
whine. " Yo' am t' carry it home, Dgawge. Go home
wid it ! " commanded Cupe emphatically. He flipped
the parcel into the air, and it fell into the open mouth
of the faithful friend. " Go home t" Dinah ! " com-
manded his master again ; and instantly the brute turned
about, gave a leap that carried him to the opposite
fence, the next carried him over the fence, and then he
vanished in the weeds in the direction of Stringtown.
As the dog disappeared the negro turned his gaze
diagonally through the grating, and caught sight of the
attorney, who had just rounded the corner of the blind
street. He was advancing toward the jail, and beneath
his arm carried a " store " wrapped package.
" Yo' kin come in ef yo' wants t', Mr. Lawyah,"
chuckled the negro ; " de front doah am unlocked, an'
yo' need n't knock. Yo' am welcome t' give Cupe a
new suit ob clo's now. Ya, ya," he chuckled, " yo' am
a smaht man, Mr. Lawyah, but some smaht men am
like some dawgs, an' caint cotch nuffin. Dey am too
slow fo' a coon an' too fas' fo' a 'possum."
119
CHAPTER XVIII
THE TRIAL OF CUPE
AND SO old Cupe faced the day of his trial. Ob-
stinately he held to his illogical course to the last
moment. Perverse in his determination to make no
defence, faithful to his inherited and loved superstitions,
careless of the effect his fanaticism might have on
himself, heedless of the pleadings and scoldings alike of
friend and attorney, with dogged indifference he main-
tained the position he had taken from the moment of
his arrest. The search of his old garments shed no
lisht on the cause of his taciturnity, and when the case
was called in court the defence could offer no rebutting
argument to refute the strong but circumstantial charge
of the prosecutor.
When Cupe was ushered into the court room, Judge
Elford, cold and solemn, occupied the chair of justice ;
the twelve jurymen, the majority of them white-haired
farmers, each with a box of sawdust at his feet, sat owl-
like in the jury-box; the contending attorneys in front
of the judge frowned from opposite sides of a small
table that held two piles of books ; before the table
rested an oblong iron chest, riveted with hammered nails
that bound to its side several heavy crossed iron hoops.
The hinges of this box were of hand-workmanship, and
the massive clasp in front was of hammered iron.
But few witnesses were called in behalf of the com-
monwealth, and none for the defence. The witnesses
120
The Trial of Cupe
sat on the front bench, and, contrary to Cupe's former
assertion concerning " nigger " testimony, Aunt Dinah,
with the little girl clasped in her arms, sat among them.
Cupe was conducted to his place in the prisoner's box,
and seemed the least concerned of those directly inter-
ested in the case. All eyes were turned upon him and
followed his every motion, as, indifferent to the gaze of
the packed assembly, he threw himself carelessly into
his chair, crossed his legs, leaned over and utilized the
sawdust box at his feet, then throwing back his head
closed his eyes and slowly chewed the remnant of a
leaf of tobacco. Although a prisoner, the old darkey
was a picture of contentment, seemingly as much at ease
as a man in perfect freedom of mind and void of care
might be, his mouth keeping time to his foot, that wab-
bled gently up and down. The case was called, the
witnesses were sworn one by one, and as each gave tes-
timony it was evident that until I arose none of them
had seen the money. Then the first direct and conclu-
sive evidence was offered concerning this treasure, and
for the first time old Cupe exhibited an interest in the
proceedings. I knew that my testimony was likely to
be harmful to my old friend, and when the sharp prose-
cutor, having led me to the discovery of the old land
deed, next asked if Cupe had exhibited any of the coin,
I hesitated. Then it was that the foot of the darkey
ceased to vibrate, the closed eyes opened, and before the
judge or counsel could anticipate the words he kindly
said : " Tole de truff, chile."
A sharp rap from the gavel of the judge was not
enough to silence the old negro, who repeated :
" Tole de truff an' shun de debbil, chile."
And so the story of how I had seen the layer of coin
in the trunk was told, the words that could only help to
121
Stringtown on the Pike
sentence the old man to the penitentiary. One by one
the threads of the web had been drawn by the prose-
cutor ; the existence of the money was proven, and the
facts that it had been in Cupe's charge, and that the
box was locked when the key, which had then been used
to unlock it, was taken from him the morning of the
storm, were also laid before the jury. The astute mind
of Cupe caught each thread of the testimony ; he could
not fail to see, when the witness bench was cleared of
all except Dinah and the child by her side, that his case
was hopeless. Yet he gave no evidence of despair, but
with half-closed eyes sat as if his part were that of an
unconcerned listener.
At last the prosecutor called the name of Dinah
Hardman, who arose and advanced to the stand. Won-
der expressed itself on the face of Cupe, who mumbled :
*' Fo' de Lawd, an' yo' doan 'tend t' let dat nigger
swoah ! " This was the view taken by the defence
also, for a lengthy argument followed, in which the two
piles of reference books were nearly demolished by op-
posing counsel. At last the judge gave his decision, to
the effect that while the case was one in which the com-
monwealth was deeply concerned, still no white person
was likely to be injured or defamed by the unusual pro-
ceeding. It was really a case in which negroes would
testify on each side, and the Court which proposed to
allow Cupe to tell his story would not exclude the tes-
timony of Dinah.
Alas, poor Cupe ! Dinah, his faithful wife, corrob-
orated the evidence I had given concerning the incident
in the cabin to the very point where I had hesitated, and
then she too wavered. It is hard to force a wife to
speak the word that consigns her husband to the peni-
tentiary, and even the judge seemed to feel the injustice
122
The Trial of Cupe
of the law. He was saved the painful duty of issuing
the command, however, for once again the prisoner in-
terrupted the proceedings :
" Tole de truff, Dinah."
This time the gavel of the judge was laid gently on
the desk, and he said kindly : " Speak, Dinah."
And when Dinah had spoken, all doubt concerning
the matter was at an end ; the gold I had testified to
have seen in the chest was shown to have been in it to
the night of Cupe's departure ; the key had been in
Cupe's possession from the time the chest was placed
in his charge to the time it was handed by him to the
constable.
The witness bench was now clear, the case of the
commonwealth had been made out, the prosecution
rested, and old Cupe's doom was about to be sealed.
Nothing the defence might offer could save him from
the penitentiary. He remained with head thrown back,
his mouth and feet moving in unison, his guileless face
as free from care as when he rested on the corn-shuck
chair before his cabin door after a hard day's work in
the coolness of a summer evening.
The closing words of the commonwealth's attorney
— " We now rest our case " — came at last. The
audience drew a long breath, the jurymen as by a single
thought changed their positions, and it could have been
observed that a huge plug of tobacco and the bright
jack-knife of the foreman passed successively from man
to man through the jury box and that without exception
a liberal slice was cut from it by each juryman, all glad
of an opportunity to exchange an old quid for a new
one. Several persons in the audience left the room at
this point, but remained away no longer than it might
have taken them to go to the nearest tavern and return ;
123
Stringtown on the Pike
and in a few moments the lawyer for the defence arose
and made his opening speech, maricedly brief, in which
he laid great stress on the past record of the defendant
rather than on the strength of his case.
He admitted to the judge that his only witnesses would
be those who would testify to the honesty of the prisoner
and to his good character, and, waving his hand over
the audience, he added : " I make no distinction in the
personality of the witnesses, any of the gentlemen from
Stringtown will serve the defence."
His plea for sympathy was adroitly expressed, but the
judge ruled out all such evidence, stating that the charge
against Cupe was specific and that direct rebuttal of the
commonwealth's evidence would be necessary. This
ruling, certainly anticipated by the counsel, left him
without any defence whatever other than the statement
of the erratic prisoner, who might be expected to convict
himself rather than prove his innocence.
Cupe sat with closed eyes, uplifted face, wabbling
foot and working mouth ; but he was not asleep, for
when his name was called by the clerk he rose, held up
his hand and was sworn. Then occurred an innova-
tion in the history of that court, for the judge arose
and delivered a terse, unusual address to the opposing
attorneys.
"The Court proposes that this witness shall be given
the privilege of telling his story in his own way and
without any interruption whatever from either opposing
or friendly counsel. The defendant is not versed in
technical terms, and might readily be led or driven to
do himself a wrong if an attempt were made either to
guide or disturb his speech. In the case under consider-
ation — a very important one to the commonwealth —
the object is to discover the gold as well as to convict
124
The Trial of Cupe
the thief. The evidence introduced by the common-
wealth has clearly established the existence of a large
treasure, but no ray of light has been thrown on its pre-
sent location, and Cupe is evidently the only person in
a position to serve the State by revealing the truth. He
can lighten his sentence by doing so." In conclusion,
the judge called attention to the fact that Cupe stood
alone, with all the world against him, and that under the
circumstances he must be given full liberty to speak at
length ; and, " if any questions are to be asked of him,"
the judge added, " I shall propound them to the satisfac-
tion of both plaintiff and defence. Are you willing,
gentlemen ? " he asked of the two lawyers ; and both
answered in the affirmative, as well they both might, for
neither the case of the commonwealth nor his own case
could be injured by the negro.
"Cupid," said the judge, "you may speak now; tell
these gentlemen all you know about this subject, and re-
member, Cupid, you have sworn before God Almighty to
tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."
Looking the judge in the face, Cupe removed the
shredded fragment of tobacco from the rubber-like lips
that covered his toothless gums.
" Yo' is bery condescendin', Jedge," he said, " t' gib
an ole nigger de 'spicuity ob dis yocasion. Howsum-
ebbah, it won't take long t' spoke all he hab t' say con-
sarnin' de case yo' am 'nquirin* 'bout. Dese heah
gem'n an' ladies what hab spoken befo' hab lef ' mighty
little fo' Cupe t' talk 'bout, 'less it be de ole chist, which,
'cep'n' Dinah, Cupe am de only pusson who undahstan's.
Dey hab tole monstrous straight stories, dese gem'n an'
ladies, an' Cupe kin sahtify t' de correc'ness ob dere
statements an' et 'fords him pleasure t' say dat de trufF
am in dem all."
125
Stringtown on the Pike
" The old fool ! " the prisoner's counsel muttered.
But at a look from the judge he refrained from making
an open interruption.
" Begin with the last time you saw the gold and tell
us all you know about its loss. Never mind what
others have said."
" Wall, Ma'se, de las' time I saw de gol' wah as
follahs : Ma'se Hardman wah growin' pow'ful weak de
las' day ob de yeah, an' Cupe knowed dat de nex'
mahn'n' 'ud see him a dead man. De signs had written
dat fac' free times obah. An' den Cupe say t' Ma'se,
' Doan Cupe ask yo' t' make yoah peace wid de pahson ? '
and Ma'se say in his same ole way, ' Damn de pahson ! '
An' den he cough ag'in bery weak-like an' look so
cavahnous dat Cupe spoke ag'in an' say, ' What yo'
gwine t' do 'bout de Susie chile when yo' lebe de planta-
tion fo' de uddah side ob Jordan ? ' An' den Ma'se look
kinder serous-like an' say, ' Brung me some ob dat gol'
an' let me see et ag'in ! ' An' den Cupe an' ole Dinah
go t' de lof an' unlock de i'on box, an' Cupe take
a han'ful ob de shiny crittahs, an' brung 'em down,
an' Ma'se pick 'em up out ob Cupe's han' one by one in
his fingahs, an' drop each piece ag'in case he too weak
t' hole de stuff. An' den he say, ' Put de gol' back,
Cupe, it am no use t' me now, an' lock de box an' go
fo' de pahson.' "
At this point the attorney for the defence arose and
began to stride back and forth across the floor, and as
he passed my side I heard him mumble, " The old fool ! "
" An' den Cupe take de gol' back an' spread it ag'in
in little piles all obah de bott'm ob dat chist an' pack de
cotton waddin' close 'bout et."
Interrupting himself, the negro advanced to the iron
box, turned the great key, raised the lid and peered into
126
The Trial of Cupe
its depths. He gently turned the box on edge so that
the judge and jurymen could see its bottom, and then,
moving his hand back and forth over the surface of
the inner part of the chest, he repeated :
" An' Cupe spread de gol' money all obah de bery
bott'm ob dis chist. It wah five pieces deep an' eb'ry
spot ob de bott'm wah cubbahed vv^id de shinin' crittahs.
An' den de lid wah put down keerfully, an' de cubbah
wah pressed t' its place, an' de key ob de cubbah wah
turned, an' den dat key wah tooken' out an' put into
Cupe's pocket."
Cupe again interrupted himself at this point to mor-
alise on the chest, but it could be seen that the Court
was getting a straight story, one that would send Cupe
to the penitentiary on his own words.
" An' yoah bott'm wah cubbahed wid gol', yo' honey
ob a chist ; an' wha' am yoah gol' now ? Befo' de
Lawd, yo' am a fren' what sticks t' de ribs." The old
negro peered intently into its depths, he moved his bony
fingers lovingly over the bottom and fingered each of the
protruding rivets — he seemed to derive pleasure in the
touch — giggled to himself and arose, smiling. " Yo' am
a true fren', yo' ole chist ; why doan de jedge ax yo' what
yo' did wid de gol' ? " Abruptly turning to the judge,
he said: "Ax de chist, Jedge."
" Never mind the story the chest might tell," said the
judge ; " what did you do next ? "
" I put on de obahcoat an' pulled de comfort obah my
ears an' drew on de coon-skin mittens an' stahted into
de storm fo' de pahson in Stringtown."
" You did not hide the money ? "
« No, sah."
"You started for Stringtown with the key of the chest
in your pocket ? "
127
Stringtown on the Pike
" Wid dis heah key s'cuah'ly in de pocket ob de
pants," and Cupe held the key aloft.
" Is that the chest, Cupe ? "
" It am de chist ; dah ain't no uddah chist like it dis
side ob Mexiky, wha' Ma'se Hardman got et in de wah.
Yo' know, Jedge, he fought wid Gen'ral Butlah ob
Cah'lton."
" Is there no other key, Cupe ? "
The old darkey rose up and faced the judge. " What
yo' ax, Ma'se ? "
" There is no other key ? " repeated the judge, leaning
over and gazing intently at the negro.
For once it seemed as though Cupe's native wit had
deserted him. He stooped down, thrust the key to its
place, removed the great iron from its socket, held it up
to the judge and said :
" Dah am moah dan a t'ousan' keys in de worl',
Ma'se ; yo' knows dah am uddah keys ; what fo' yo' ax
Cupe sech a quistion es dat ? "
" I mean is there another key like the one you hold
in your hand ? "
"Yo' ax es t' wheddah dah be 'nuddah key cap'ble ob
unlockin' de lid ob dis chist, 'nuddah key like dis key ? "
"Yes."
" Den Cupe kin ansah de quistion, case he knows de
ansah. Dah ain't no uddah key like dis one, dah nebbah
hab been but one key t' fit dat keyhole sense Ma'se
brought de box from Mexiky. Ef Cupe wah on his
dyin' bed an' de fires wah buhn'n' fo' his soul, an' de
good Lawd should say, ' Cupe, yo' kin save yo'sef de
red-hot pitchfork ob de debbil ef yo' say dah am 'nuddah
key t' dis cubbah,' Cupe could n't say de word t' save
his soul lessen he would lie. Dah am no uddah key,
Ma'se."
128
The Trial of Cupe
" And so, Cupe, you left the gold in the chest that
evening ? No person could have opened the chest with-
out the key, and it was in your possession until it was
delivered to the officer appointed to take charge of the
effects of your master ? "
"'Zac'ly."
" How could the money have got out of the chest ? "
The judge spoke severely, and, eyeing Cupe, pointed
into the empty box.
"Who say et git out ob de chist?" retorted Cupe,
"not dis nigger."
" It is not there."
The negro dropped on his knees again and gazed into
its rusty interior. " Suah dah ain't no gol' t' be seen, an'
Cupe am glad et ain't t' be seen. De sign what nebbah
lie say de gol' wah fo' de gearl, but ef et could be scraped
t'geddah by de const'ble et 'ud go into de pocket ob de
lawyah. Yo' am right, Ma'se Elford, de chist won't tell
no tales t' de lawyah, an' Cupe hab tole de truff an'
nuffin but de truff es he swore t' do. Dah ain't nuffin
moah t' say." He lowered the cover of the chest and
turned the key.
Vainly did the judge try by art and persuasion to in-
duce the old man to add to or detract from his statement ;
he declined to alter his testimony in any way, but seated
himself in the prisoner's box, thrust a shred from a leaf
of tobacco between his lips, where, like a straw between
two rubber shoes, it wabbled from side to side. With
closed eyes and see-sawing foot, old Cupe sat silent.
Then the attorney for the defence arose, and in a de-
spondent tone, addressing the judge, said : " I submit the
side of the defence to your Honour without argument
and throw my client on the mercy of the Court."
129
CHAPTER XIX
THE RIGHT OF CLERGY
NEVER did the court of Stringtown County con-
vene with spectators more intensely interested
and more prompt in assembling. When the clerk made
the opening cry every place was filled, and even the two
side aisles were partly occupied by chairs brought from
the bar-room of the nearest tavern. The universal
opinion was that the jury must find Cupe guilty ; and
the only question which perplexed the village was re-
garding the penalty likely to be inflicted. The charge
of the judge was soon delivered ; it was short, and so
clearly drawn as to leave the jury no alternative but to
bring in a verdict against the defendant. As the twelve
men filed slowly from the room it required but little of
the spirit of prophecy to foresee that they would soon
return. After a brief consultation the jury came back
to the box, and the announcement was made by the
court officer that they were ready to return their verdict.
" Gentlemen of the jury, are you agreed ? " asked
the judge.
" We are," said the foreman, and handed the Court a
paper, from which his Honour read aloud :
" We do unanimously agree that in wilfully secreting
a large sum of money which had been entrusted to his
care Cupid Hardman is guilty of high crime against the
commonwealth of Kentucky."
" Stand up, prisoner," said the judge, " while the sen-
tence of the law is pronounced."
130
The Right of Clergy
Cupid arose and looked the judge in the face. Then
occurred a strange thing, for a cry from one in the aisle,
who was standing upright at the back of the room, broke
the stillness.
" I ask for justice ! "
Audacious interruption this, in a Kentucky court.
The judge looked steadily at the intruder; every face
was turned in the direction whence the startling cry had
come ; every face, I may say, but one. Cupe neither
moved nor changed expression.
In the rear of the centre aisle, with a leather-bound
book held high in his hand, Mr. Wagner, the Stringtown
clerk, stood expectant, and as the eyes of the assembly
turned upon him he repeated :
"Justice ! justice ! I ask for justice — justice at the
hands of the Court, your Honour ! "
" Justice is the right of him who appeals to a court
of justice," answered the judge. " For whom do you
ask justice ? "
" For the prisoner before you, for the slave, Cupid
Hardman."
" Justice he shall have in accordance with the testi-
mony. Listen to the charge."
" Hold your word, your Honour. I ask for justice
in the name of equity, not according to the testimony.
Listen, your Honour, listen until you hear the statutory
claim of him who demands the right."
Bearing aloft the book, the uncouth man advanced
slowly down the aisle until he stood before the bench.
Then, thrusting the volume into the hand of the slave,
he spoke in a deliberate,, slow tone, looking straight into
the face of the judge. " I claim for this slave, Cupid
Hardman, the Right of Clergy^ and this demand I make
in the name of the law of this great commonwealth of
131
Stringtown on the Pike
Kentucky and on behalf of justice, for I believe him to
have done no crime."
The judge folded his arms on his chest and not less
deliberately replied :
*' The claim is a legal one and accords with the
statutes of the commonwealth. Open the book, Cupid
Hardman, and if you can read aloud the Constitution of
the United States,' the brand may be applied to your
hand and you may go forth freed from the charge pend-
ing against you."
The aged negro opened the book and read (or re-
peated) word for word the entire Constitution of the
United States, and, having handed the book back to his
champion, stood awaiting the next motion of the Court.
" The brand ! the brand of fire ! bring in the brand ! "
ordered the judge in a faltering, low tone.
Turning toward the aisle, the lank clerk again held
up his hand, which, high above the heads of the people,
could be plainly seen from the corridor without. In
answer to that signal, following the footsteps of the
Stringtown clerk, advanced a figure familiar to nearly
all who were present — the figure of the old Jew, Mose.
The habitual, emotionless smile wreathed his glossy
face, a smile that contrasted strangely with the solemnity
of the occasion, a smile unquestionably out of place in
the present assembly. He carried a tinner's charcoal
furnace fired to redness, into the living coals of which
was thrust a searing iron such as is used to-day for
branding beasts. Placing the heated furnace on the
floor before the negro, the Jew drew the brand from the
glowing brazier and stood awaiting the next order of
the judge.
"Sheriff^ proceed with your duty ! Cupid, holdout
your hand ! " ordered the judge.
132
The Right of Clergy
The sheriff grasped the hot iron, Cupe extended his
bare palm, the heated metal came in contact with the
living tissue, a puff of blue vapour shot from the contact
surfaces, a sizzling sound followed, and a shudder swept
over the spectators, many of whom covered their faces.
A quick cry, loud and shrill, pierced the air when that
vapour curled upward, and with a bound the little girl
leaping from the arms of Dinah, sprang between the
executioner and the victim. Striking up the hand which
held the hot iron, she threw an arm around the waist of
Cupe and stood defiantly beside him, shaking her tiny
fist at the sheriff of Stringtown County.
But Cupe, with extended arm still held before the
sheriff, made no attempt to avoid the ordeal. He had
not flinched, no cry of pain broke from his lips, no
struggle to escape the brand of fire.
" 'Scuse de chile, Mr. Sheriff," he said gently, as with
his left hand he tenderly stroked her hair. " She am but
a leetle gearl an' lub de ole nigger. Go on wid de act ! "
"Enough! enough!" ordered the judge; "you are
free to go home, Cupid ; you are freed from the sentence
of the Court, by the Right of Clergy" ^
1 "The last time this plea was allowed in Kentucky was in the
Barren Circuit Court, where a negro was on trial for rape before
Judge Richard Buckner, and as the prosecutrix was a white woman,
he was sentenced to death, owing to the bitter prejudices of a white
jury, although the evidence against him was clearly insufficient. The
learned judge, heartily sympathizing with the poor wretch, thought
of this plea as a means of escape for him, and instructed his attorneys
to make it. The negro being tendered the United States Constitu-
tion, and found able to read it, he was accordingly burned in the hand
and discharged from custody. The plea was shortly afterward (in
1S47) abolished by the Legislature." — Sixth Kentucky Law Reporter,
p. 508. This statute was carried into Kentucky law from England
where, as is known, the " Right of Clergy " was allowed but once to
a claimant who was then branded in the palm or on the ball of the
thumb to prevent a second appeal. Few Americans are aware that
Stringtown on the Pike
Many of the audience came to the bondman's side
when court adjourned and shook the uninjured hand.
Men praised the negro's fortitude, for Kentuckians love
a brave man, be he black or white ; and old Dinah,
mumbling to herself, bound the heroic man's hand in a
red bandanna handkerchief. At last the room was va-
cated of all but the court officers, the friends of Cupe
and the late prisoner.
" You are free to go home," repeated the judge.
" Yo' hab de t'anks ob an ole, ign'rant nigger, Ma'se
Jedge, fo' yoah many kindnesses, but Cupe 'ud like t' ax
a quistion."
" Certainly."
" Kin de chist go nome wid de nigger ? "
«Yes."
Cupe made a low courtesy, stooped over, and with
his uninjured arm attempted to throw the heavy box
upon his shoulder. The sheriff came to his assistance,
and by their combined efforts the burden was lifted to
its brawny resting place. As Cupid left the court room
the sheriff remarked : " Devilish heavy for an empty
box."
The judge made no reply.
And so the gold I had been promised and on which
I had built great air castles was lost to me forever.
With dragging feet I moved from the door of the court-
house to the wagon of Mose, the huckster, and there,
with arms clasped over my head, with face hidden from
the light, leaning against the hind wheel of that dilapi-
dated vehicle, I sobbed gently and nervously kicked the
sod on which my tears were falling. The horse of the
this curious old law ever had a footing in our land. See " Neck
Verse," usually Psalm li. i, which if the prisoner could read entitled
him, after branding, to his freedom, thus saving his neck.
The Right of Clergy
Hebrew, untied at the rear of the wagon, stood munch-
ing the remnant of a dinner from the worn trough which
hung on the back part of the wagon bed ; but I gave no
heed to the beast, even when its hairy lips were flipped
carelessly against my cheek. A flock of barn pigeons
whistled about my head and alighted near my feet, pick-
ing up the scattered grains of corn that had dropped
upon the ground from the mouth of the horse, but for
once my hand forgot its cunning and no stone was
raised. Aunt Dinah, leading the little girl, passed
me and climbed into the wagon. Mose placed the
brazier in the wagon, having previously emptied the
fiery contents on the roadside, then harnessed his horse
and proceeded to hitch the faithful beast in the shafts.
I heard next the footsteps of old Cupe approaching, the
iron chest upon his shoulder. The chest was deposited
on the ground near me, and as the negro straightened
up, the 'bus to Stringtown, filled to its utmost capacity,
rolled by. A cheer went up in honour of Cupe, who
waved his bandaged hand in return. As the omnibus
rattled along I raised my eyes, and beheld near me in
the tail of the covered wagon a round, red face, sur-
mounted by a mop of bright red hair : it was the face
of a boy about my own age. A derisive smile spread
over the florid countenance, a mouth was " made," into
which more sarcasm and irony were thrown than can be
put into any other countenance on earth than that of a
malignant boy, and a hand, red as a duck's foot, placed
its thumb on the red nose and twisted its fingers. It
was hatred at first sight. I, who stood by the wagon
wheel, forgot my own troubles, straightened up and
shook my fist defiantly back at the boy in the tail of the
'bus, and, grasping a clod (no stone was near), hurled
it at the retreating form. As the vehicle vanished in a
135
Stringtown on the Pike
cloud of dust Cupe placed his hand on my head and
muttered :
" De signs am fulfillin' monstrous fas' an' de meanin'
ob de sign t' yo' am — look out fo' dat Red-Head
Boy ! "
136
CHAPTER XX
JUDGE ELFORD
THE following day another interesting trial was
conducted in the Court of Stringtown County.
The force of the commonwealth was expended in a vain
attempt to disprove the legality of the short will of the
" Corn Bug " as recorded on the slate of the child and wit-
nessed by the dead minister. Again the judge permitted
the evidence of the negress Dinah to be taken, and in
summing up the case, declared that both in intent and
deed the law had been complied with in the drafting of
that unusual will concerning the authenticity of which
there was no doubt, for the handwriting of Mr. Jones
was well known and Dinah testified that it had been
drawn by the direct command of the " Corn Bug." The
property of the " Corn Bug " was not claimed by kindred
and, other than a disinherited, adopted brother, there
were no possible heirs in law, for death had ended the
line of descent. In sound mind and health, Mr. Hard-
man had openly stated in Stringtown, in presence of the
Court and others, that the land and all but two thousand
dollars of the gold (that had no legal existence) was to
go to the girl. She was his heir, and the Court must
certify to the legality of the will and appoint an adminis-
trator for the child. For that office the judge named
Mr. Wagner, the clerk of Stringtown, who at once
qualified and received his appointment. Thus when
time for adjournment arrived that day, the tragedy be-
137
Stringtown on the Pike
gun in the tempest of the dying year, 1863, had closed
so far as it concerned the present term of the String-
town County Court.
When Judge Elford returned to his home, exhausted
by the cares of the days that had preceded, his form was
bent more than usual and his footsteps lagged as he
moved from the door of the 'bus to his own threshold.
But he made no complaint. And when the kerosene
lamp was lighted and the window curtains of the small
front room were drawn after supper, the faithful student
and unselfish judge sat once more before his desk, which,
with its bookcase above, constituted the greatest treasure
of his lonely house.
Gone were his children, out into the world, — they had
left him long ago ; gone was the wife of his bosom —
many years she had rested beneath the sward enclosed in
Stringtown's white-palinged fence ; gone were the am-
bitions of boyhood and manhood ; all had been swept
away by the resistless broom that had brushed the years
into oblivion. His life had been spent unselfishly in
behalf of his countrymen and his beloved Common-
wealth ; no charity had appealed to him in vain, no
wanderer had gone from his door unfed, penniless each
New Year found him and penniless each old year left this
man who spent the material returns that came with each
season in behalf of his fellow-men, and gave his intel-
lectual self to the cause of justice. Alone in his modest
study sat the weary, venerable Kentucky judge, typical
of hundreds of others who lived thirty years ago in that
border State.
And as he sat in the dim lamplight of that modest
room the record of his years arose before him, bearing
again to his gaze the mother from out the long, long-
ago, the boyish feet, the spring of youth, the ambition
138
Judge Elford
of middle age and lastly the closing of life's hopes and
cares in the edge of the ending that was yet to come.
And then, as the chain of thought-links closed, he rose,
took from its place in the bookcase above him the leather-
bound volume that he had opened in the presence of the
village clerk, opened it again to the same page, that
which gave the account of the Case in the Barren County
Court, and read : " I claim the Right of Clergy for this
slave." Then Cupe's face came up and the past was
pictured. Again he saw the open tomb into which the
casket had been lowered ; Cupe kneeling beside once
more with strap in hand ; again the face of the old darkey
was raised as it had been in the long buried past ; the
raindrops fell, patter, patter; the sound of the vanished
raindrops, deadened to all but him who sat alone that
night, came again to life, and the mood-struck man
heard from memory's chamber the voice of the old
negro who by his command had been so recently tor-
tured, gently repeat : " Bressed am de dead what de rain
falls on."
Slowly the head of the careworn man fell upon the
hands that were now crossed over the open volume. The
aching forehead touched the printed page, and as recent
events crushed into his mind the lips again murmured
the sentence spoken over that book, in that same room
the night of Mr. Wagner's visit : " God forgive me if I
have done a wrong."
139
CHAPTER XXI
WHY THE HONEY BEE DON't SUCK RED CLOVER
ACORN-SHUCK chair, tipped back in the sun-
shine, stood beside a cabin door. Cupe, with
crossed legs, one foot resting on a round of the chair,
sat balanced thereon. The hanging foot was beating
time to an aged violin, keyed to the highest tone, from
which came the familiar tune : " Run, Nigger, Run, or
White Man '11 Catch You," a favourite with ante-
bellum darkeys. The hand that held the bow was ban-
daged, but that did not disturb the peace of mind of the
owner or injure in the least the tune he scraped from the
loved instrument. Near the door a gaunt coon hound
was peacefully sleeping, his nose between his forelegs,
the tips of his flabby ears falling to the earth. In front
of the negro stood a little girl with clean face and
smoothly combed hair. She was clad in oddly cut gar-
ments, very prim, stiff, almost fantastic, but faultlessly
clean. She was enjoying the music, and from time to
time would clap her hands and dance artlessly and joy-
ously. The lively tune, quite out of keeping with the
player's sedate appearance, was accompanied at intervals
with snatches of songs, of which the following are fair
samples :
Ya — ya — ya — ya — ya,
Look upon de mantelpiece,
Han' me down my candle grease,
Grease my cart an' grease my gear,
Grease ole Ball behin' de ear.
140
why the Honey Bee, &c.
Chorus.
Dance, chile, dance. An' a walk ole Hogan walk,
An' a walk ole Hogan walk. An' a walk ole
Hogan walk, ole Hogan walk along.
Ya — ya — ya — ya — ya.
De little bee suck de blossom,
De big bee make de honey,
De nigger wo'k terbacky, an'
De white man spen' de money.
Chorus.
Dance, chile, dance, etc.
When I went down ter Shin Bone Shank,
De creek wah wide an' deep,
I put my foot on de grey goose' back.
An' she carried me 'cross de creek.
Chorus.
Dance, chile, dance, etc.
At each call of " Dance, chile, dance," the girl pranced
and scampered around in true negro style, and when the
chorus was over waited expectant for the next stanza.
Occasionally old Cupe excitedly jumped from the chair,
holding his violin and bow aloft in his uninjured hand,
and with characteristic negro step and comical motion
joined in the dance, continuing to sing. Then, seating
himself, he changed the tune and sang a few verses, the
last one running as follows :
Some fo'ks say dat de nigger won't steal,
But I caught six in my corn fiel',
Tied 'em down wid a little piece ob twine.
Up wid my whip an' I gib 'em ninety-nine.
Chorus.
Dance, chile, dance, etc.
Wha'd yo' come from, knock a nigger down,
Wha'd yo' come from, Apalackytown.
Wha'd yo' come from, knock a nigger down,
Wha'd yo' come from, Apalackytown.
141
Stringtown on the Pike
" Oh, Uncle Cupe," chimed in the child, " did you
whip the niggers ? "
"Yes, chile, yes, and heah am de string what dey
wah tied wid. Ya, ya." And old Cupe pulled a slender
piece of twine from beneath a patch, for once more he
wore the patched garments of many colours that had
been taken from him during his imprisonment.
" Tell me a story. Uncle Cupe."
" What shall et be 'bout, chile ? "
" Anything you will tell me."
The negro cast his eyes about, and they rested on a
jabbering flock of ducks. " I '11 tole you why de turkey
say ' tuck, tuck ' an' de duck say ' day, day.' "
The child clapped her hands.
" One time de turkey an' de duck git t' yargerin'
'bout which could wake fust in de mahn'n. An'
befo' dey go t' sleep dey settle de mattah by 'greein'
among demsels dat de fust dat wake should tole de
uddah dat he see de day. Up t' dis time de two had
roosted t'geddah on de groun', but dis night de turkey
tuhn his back on his fren'. De ole turkey roost up in
de top ob de tree, an' early in de mahn'n see de light
creepin' obah de hill ; but de duck who sit on de groun'
could n't cotch de gleamin'. An' de turkey called down,
' Tuck, tuck,' an' de duck wake up. I tole yo', chile,
dat de duck am a sly crittah. He know dat de stupid
turkey see de light, but dat de ole fool had n't sense nuff
t' say so. An' de duck hollah back ' Day, day, day ! '
an' he win de bet. Ebah sense dat time " (and Cupe
looked very solemn) " de turkey hab said, ' tuck, tuck,'
an' de duck hab said, ' day, day.' Ebah sense dat time
de turkey hab roost in de tree an' de duck hab sot on de
earf. Dese birds wah close fren's once, but dey hab
monstrous little use fo' each uddah now."
142
why the Honey Bee, &c.
The child applauded and said : " Tell me another
story, Uncle Cupe."
Again the negro looked about for an object lesson,
and caught sight of a honey bee sucking a white clover
head in the grass-plot at his feet.
" I '11 tole yo' why de honey bee doan suck red clovah."
The child repeated her applause, and the old negro
continued :
" When de Lawd make de honey bee an' de bumble
bee he make red an' white clovah de same mahn'n'.
An' de Lawd take de two bees to de iiel' ob clovah an'
he sot em on de fence an' 'pared t' gib 'em some 'vice.
An' when dem bees see de clovah patch an' smell de
honey, dey doan wait fo' no moah observashuns, but make
a bre'k fo' de blos'm, lebin' de Lawd standin' 'side de
fence ; an' dis actin' up make de Lawd pow'ful cross.
An' he grab at dem two bees es dey fly 'way, an' cotch
de honey bee ; but de bumble bee wah too sharp fo' him
an' git 'way, an' he hide in de clovah patch. Den de
Lawd say t' de honey bee, what he hold 'twixt his fin-
gahs : ' Yo' caint git 'way 'til yo' make up yoah min' t'
one ob two tings.' De bee ax what dey wah, an' de
Lawd spoke de word wid be bark on it :
" ' Ef yo' suck red clovah, yo' can't wo'k on Sunday.
Ef yo' wo'k on week-days an' Sundays, too, yo' can't
suck red clovah. Yo' kin take yoah ch'ice.'
" An' den de bee, he know de Lawd am in earnest,
an' he debate de subject obah 'til de Lawd git tired ob
waitin', an' say : ' Ef yo' doan make yoah min' up pow'-
ful quick yo' 11 git de life squeezed out ob yo' ; ' an' he
gib dat bee a leetle squeeze. An' den de honey bee
hollah out dat he choose t' wo'k eb'ry day ob de week,
Sunday an' all. So de Lawd make him promise not t'
suck red clovah blos'm, ef he 'low him t' wo'k on Sun-
143
Stringtown on the Pike
day, an' de honey bee hab nebbah suck a head ob red
clovah, nebbah. But de bumble bee, what did n't make no
promise t' de Lawd, suck bof red an' white clovah week-
day an' Sunday." Again the child clapped her hands, and
Cupe thrust a fresh leaf of tobacco into his flabby mouth.
" Tell me another story, Uncle."
The negro shaded his eyes with his unbound hand,
and gazed intently over the distant hill. " Chile, what
yo' see com'n' obah de rise on de Stringtown pafF? "
The girl turned in the direction indicated, and quickly
answered : "A man, Uncle."
" Jump down, honey, run t' Aunt Dinah." Cupe
arose with this unceremonious dismissal and walked
toward the man, muttering as he did so : " P'r'aps et es
bes' ef de conbersashun ain't hea'd by de honey chile;
dah hab be'n bodin' signs ob late, an' et may be bes' fo'
Cupe t' be alone. Las' night when de moon go down,
de cheer an' de table creek an' crack, de kettle move on
de harf, de doah push in an' out, but dah wa'n't no wind.
De sign wah bad, an' Cupe am suah dat trouble am
movin' 'bout." He turned back at this juncture, and
spoke to the sleeping hound : " Yo' may come, Dgawge
Wash'n't'n," and the old dog, obedient to his master's
word, arose, yawned and came to his side.
The stranger was Mr. Wagner, who was warmly wel-
comed by the negro. Well might Cupe bid him a
cordial good-day, for it will be remembered that by
means of the patient instruction of Mr. Wagner, illiter-
ate Cupe acquired a knowledge of the Constitution of
the United States, and thus saved himself a term in the
penitentiary. The tragic occurrence, vivid in the mind
of the old negro, led him, on meeting the clerk, to ex-
travagance of speech and to thanks so prolific as to give
the hearer no opportunity to say a word.
144
Why the Honey Bee, &c.
" An' t' t'ink dat Cupe distrusted yo' when he seed
yo' com'n' an' feared dat yo' brung bad news. Wah
dah ebah so mighty a 'stake ! Come into de house,
Ma'se, an' take a glass ob milk an' see de chile what
yo' gladden wid de sight ob Uncle Cupe. Et wah a
mighty close shave, Ma'se, an' t' t'ink dat Cupe wah
afeard yo' brung bad news."
The visitor entered the cabin and partook of a drink
of fresh buttermilk, but notwithstanding Cupe's cordial
welcome seemed ill at ease. At last he said : " Cupid,
you are aware, are you not, that I am appointed guar-
dian for this little girl ? What 's her name ? "
The countenance of the negro changed in an instant,
and he gave expression to the oft-repeated sentence of
surprise.
"Spoke ag'n, Ma'se. De name am Susie."
*' I have been appointed guardian for Susie."
" Yo' hab moah t' say ; go on."
"You know, Cupid, that this is not an appropriate
place to bring up a child. You and Dinah have not
the opportunities necessary to the education and culti-
vation of the girl. She is the heir of this large farm,
and should have the advantages of a good education, and
the company of playmates befitting her station."
The shrewd negro intuitively grasped the meaning
of the pointed words of Mr. Wagner.
" An' why doan yo' let de nigger go ter de pen'tensh'ry
ef yo' 'tend t' take 'way de chile ? What fo' yo' lead
him back t' sorrah ? Stan' up, Dinah, an' beg fo' de
sake ob de honey deah. Yo' doan mean et, Ma'se
Wagnah, yo' doan mean et ; yo' am jokin' wid de poo'
ole man. Yo' 'udn't take de blos'm, yo' udn't cave
in de heaht ob de two ole fo'ks ? "
" Cupid, I am in earnest. The child must remain in
lo 145
Stringtown on the Pike
my care in Stringtown. Judge Elford appointed me ad-
ministrator."
The old slave fell upon his knees, and with uplifted
hands, with all the force and extravagance of the negro
language, begged for the child he had raised. " De
honey am our chile, I foun' de baby an' its muddah half
starved on de grabe in Bloody Hollah. We wahm et
by de fiah, we sit up in de night, an' watch obah et in
de day ; we promise de ma'se what wah t' keer fo' et es
ef et wah de baby chile ob de ma'se hisse'f. Yo' won't
take de pritty chile 'way, et am de light ob day t' de two
ole fo'ks who hain't nuffin else t' lib fo'."
" It must be, Cupid : for the child's sake, it is best.
However, you need not feel so disconsolate. Aunt Di-
nah and yourself will have opportunities to visit Susie
often, and she can come to the cabin occasionally. Re-
member, this is her cabin and land, you and Dinah are
her slaves, and you may have the care of the land and
live here."
But explanations and soft words made no impression
on either of the negroes. Although Cupid did all the
supplicating, it could be seen that Dinah was not less
heart-stricken. She stood by Cupe's side and silently
wept, clasping the frightened child, who did not under-
stand, yet realised that she was concerned in the trouble
that had fallen on her two friends, the only friends she
knew in the world. Weeping she clung to the neck of
the old woman.
But the scene finally came to an end, and Mr. Wag-
ner insisted that the child be given to his care. " You
may bring her clothes later, Cupe," he added.
" De clo's will come befo' da'k," replied the old man,
" but yo' bettah let de chile change dem ole slippahs fo'
de new pair. Dem wah put on fo' de purpose ob de
146
why the Honey Bee, &c.
dance." The change was made, and then Cupe offered
no further objection to the decision of the Court.
Clasping the frightened little girl in his arms her un-
couth but kind-hearted benefactor retreated along the
path by which he came. The sobbing child made no
resistance nor outcry. Cupe stood in the cabin door,
the violin lay at his feet, the flock of ducks jabbered be-
side the fence, but were unheard, the bumble bee buzzed
in the clover patch, but unseen. There was no song
now in the heart of the forlorn man, no music, no folk-
lore stories in his soul. His eyes followed the retreating
figure of the lank officer with the child in his arms, until
together they vanished beyond the crest of the distant
hill. Then his gaze turned upon the vacant spot
where, a short time before, Susie had danced to the tune
of his merry violin, and a tear sprang to his eyes and
rolled down his wrinkled cheek — the first tear he had
shed during the sorrowful interview. Old George
Washington lay curled up beside the door, and Dinah
on her knees, holding in her hand a child's plaything —
a gourd cut to look like the head of a man — moaned
inside the cabin. '"-An' dah wah trouble com'n'," said
Cupe; " de sign couldn't lie. When de table an' de
cheer talk t'geddah, an' de doah move in an' out in de
still night, et am a sign ob saht'n trouble. But dah am
deeper trouble yit to come ; when de two boys mix in
de 'fairs ob de honey gearl, dah am worsah trouble fo'
Cupe."
Then he spoke to Dinah : " Git up, yo' fool nigger,
what fo' yo' blubberin' like a sick sheep ? Doan yo'
know dat eb'ry fellah hab t' stan' his own toofache ?
Doan yo' know dat cryin' salty tears doan stop no bleed-
ing heaht ? Git de chile some clo's, fo' de night am
com'n' ! "
147
Stringtown on the Pike
A little while later the devoted man might have been
seen slowly trudging along the path the clerk had trod ;
over his shoulder he carried a bundle containing the
clothing of the child ; now at his heels, with downcast
head, as if he entered into the sorrow of his master,
walked George Washington.
148
CHAPTER XXII
" GOD MADE DE SIGN'"
THE home of Mr. Wagner was on the Stringtown
pike, about one-third of the distance between the
southern and the northern extremities of the village.
Its owner was not in affluent circumstances ; still he
lived comfortably. An unmarried sister acted as house-
keeper, and it would have been difficult to determine by
their countenances which was the older. However, no
question could arise concerning their relationship, for
the maiden lady, fully as spare and nearly as tall as her
lank brother, possessed features so similar as to bespeak
the close family connection. Her face was kindly in its
expression, and it was evident that Susie had fallen into
good hands. The thoughtful judge had made no mis-
take in the selection of the child's guardian.
To this home, that rested its face against the edge
of the pike, and its heel-like shed in the narrow lot that
stretched back to the woodland pasture, the village clerk
carried the unwilling charge he had taken from the home
of Cupe. The girl was still sobbing ; she had refused
the kindly advances of such of the neighbours as chanced
to be in the street, and would not be comforted. It
chanced that I stood before my mother's door as, to-
gether with her new guardian, she passed by, but she
gave no sign of recognition when I called her name.
Judge Elford came out of his house and took her kindly
by the hand, but she buried her face in the shoulder of
149
Stringtown on the Pike
the man who carried her, and refused to speak. The
sister of Mr. Wagner was alike unsuccessful ; she could
get no kind word ; the untamed child refused to eat and
refused to play. She fell asleep sobbing, and was gently
laid on the little bed that had been prepared for her by
the expectant and puzzled spinster. Then it was that a
tap was heard at the door, and on opening it the bent
form of Cupe appeared. Handing Miss Wagner the
package of clothes, he silently turned away and vanished
in the darkness.
A few moments later Judge Elford was disturbed by
a similar knock, and opened the door to find the dis-
consolate negro on the threshold.
At the pressing invitation of the judge, Cupe stepped
inside the door, but, in accordance with the custom of
old slaves, refused to sit down.
" What can I do for you, Cupid ? "
" De light ob de cabin am gone, de clouds am risen,
an' Cupe ax fo' comfo't."
" But what can I do for you ? " repeated the judge.
'*• Yo' kin send de man ob sorrah ter de pen'tensh'ry,
fo' he ain't no moah use heah. Yo' kin do de duty yo'
spoke 'bout las' week, Ma'se Elford."
" Indeed I cannot. You have freed yourself from the
penitentiary by the Right of Clergy."
" De law am pow'ful strong when a man wan's et
weak, an' monstrous weak when a man wan's et strong ;
ef a man wan's t' git out ob de pen'tensh'ry he can't git
de doah op'n, case ob de law ; ef he wants t' git into de
pen'tensh'ry he can't git dah case ob de law. De law
am monstrous cu'yus."
" But you don't want to go to the penitentiary,
Cupe ? "
"'Deed I does, case dah ain't nuffin t' lib fo' out ob
ISO
"God made de Sign"
et now dat yo' hab took de chile 'way. She am white
an' Cupe am brack ; but de chile wah raised from a baby
by de brack man ; de ole nigger promise Ma'se Hard-
man t' keer fo' her 'til deff come, an' he promise de
muddah ob de chile befo' God t' watch obah her 'til she
wah able t' keer fo' herse'f. Dese am serous tings
t' promise t' de ma'se what am dead an' t' de angel
mammy, an' t' bre'k de wo'd am wicked, an' Cupe doan
want t' be walkin' free an' not doin' what he say on his
knees he 'ud do. Ef de nigger am in de pen'tensh'ry
an de dead ma'se come an' say in a dream : ' Why ain't
yo' keerin' fo' de blos'm ? ' Cupe kin say back : ' Caint
yo' see dat de nigger am in de jail ? ' Ef de spcrrit ob de
muddah ob de chile come floatin' into de cabin an' say :
' Wha' am de baby Susie what yo' fin' on de grabe in
Bloody Hollah ? ' what kin Cupe say ef he am free t'
walk 'bout ? 'Deed, Ma'se Elford, I does wan' t' go t'
de pen'tensh'ry, an' ef yo' keer fo' de peace ob min' ob
de ole man yo '11 sen' him dah."
" Go home, Cupid, go home and sleep. You will
feel better in the morning. Susie is well, has a good
home, and will see you often."
" An' yo' won't lis'n t' de claim ob de sah'rin'
nigger ? "
'' I cannot."
The old negro opened the door and hesitated on the
sill. " An' yo' caint sen' de nigger t' de pen'tensh'ry ? "
" No, Cupid."
" An' yo' caint gib him back de chile ? "
The judge shook his head.
" Do yo' see wha' Cupe am stan'n' ? Et am on de
doah-sill, Ma'se Elford, an' dat sign say bad luck t' yoah
argyment. Lis'n t' what de ole nigger tole yo' now.
De law say dat de chile can't lib wid Cupe, but de sign
151
String town on the Pike
say dat she mus' lib wid Cupe — ef she Hb, Ef de law
am right, de sign am wrong. Who made de law ? " he
vehemently asked.
" Wise and good men," replied the judge.
" An' God make de sign. Do de wise man set hisse'f
'bove de Lawd ? Ma'se Elford, yo '11 lib t' see dat de
Lawd am biggah dan de law."
153
CHAPTER XXIII
SUSIE IS LOST
JUDGE Elford found as the days passed that the
child whose lot had been cast among the negroes
refused to be comforted by her friendly benefactors.
She moved about disconsolate in her new home, spirit-
less and moping the hours away. She shrank from Miss
Wagner, she asked for no love, and gave none. To
escape the gaze of men and children, she would sit for
hours in the back yard of the cottage, where, secure
from prying eyes, she spent the time listlessly gazing at
the sky or the forest in the distance. Neither Cupe nor
Dinah visited her, and both declared they would never
do so. The entreaties of the judge and Mr. Wagner,
even the threats of the latter, made no impression on
either of them.
" Ef yo' caint keer fo' de chile, what fo' yo' took her
'way from de home wha' she wah happy ? Ef Cupe
go t' see de honey, it '11 only make de mattah wussah,
fo' she '11 cry her eyes out when he come back."
" But you can tell her that it is best for her to stay in
her new home. You can explain to her that she can
be happy if she will try to forget her past life."
" An' dah am uddah tings Cupe could tole her what ain't
true es easy es dat, but de fac' am yo' tire yo'selb tryin'
t' 'fluence Cupe t' do anything t' circumbent de spell.
Dah am but one outcome t' dis heah mattah, eidah yo'
153
Stringtown on the Pike
mus' let de chile lib wha' she b'long er yo '11 stan' 'side
her grabe. De spell say dah am no uddah endin'."
Persuasions were of no avail. Cupe had a ready an-
swer for every argument and sat looking as glum as a
death's-head. Thus the child lived in her new home
until one morning when the care-worn housekeeper went
to awaken her, the little bed was found empty. The
girl had disappeared. The day before she had asked
some trivial questions, and in the course of her conver-
sation had referred to one of Cupe's wild sayings. Miss
Wagner had taken the opportunity to explain that Cupid
was mistaken in his methods, and that in time the child
would understand his errors. Susie stood with down-
cast eyes, from which fell a few glistening tears. It
was evident that she took the disparagement of Cupe to
heart. She left the room, seated herself in the sunshine
of the back yard, and to the time of going to bed did
not speak a word. The next morning the child and her
garments were missing. From beneath the very touch
of her faithful guardian, catlike she had slipped out, and
into the back yard, out and into the great wide world
of which she knew so little. Could the sleepers in the
modest dwelling have seen her that night, they would
have seen her clasp her garments in her arms, and in
bare feet tiptoe to the kitchen door ; they would have
seen her turn the key as cautiously as an experienced
burglar might do, then, with instinctive forethought, re-
close and lock the door from the outside ; after which,
in the light of the rising moon, the artful child dressed
herself rapidly, even to carefully tying her shoes. At
last, stealing through the little garden, she climbed the
back fence into the woodland pasture and ran toward the
distant forest.
A startling whisper went from mouth to mouth in
154
Susie is Lost
Stringtown, when the news went forth that the ward of
Mr. Wagner had disappeared. The search, begun in
expectation of soon finding the child, continued through
the entire day. Wells and cisterns were probed, ponds
were di'agged.
155
CHAPTER XXIV
cupe's advice to his dog
MR. WAGNER at once visited Cupe, taking me
along, for I was known to be a close friend of
the old negro. He was sitting in the accustomed chair
beside his cabin door. He had turned for solace to his
faithful violin, and long before the visitors reached the
cabin we caught the mournful tones of a plaintive tune
that spoke the mood of the musician's mind. George
Washington looked up and growled, but, evidently un-
der the command of an undertone from his master,
closed his eyes and lowered his head. Cupe gave no
sign of salutation ; he continued his dolorous tune until
the intruders stood close before him, and could distin-
guish a few lines of one of the most plaintive of negro
melodies :
Yo' ask what make dis niggah weep,
Why he like uddahs am not gay,
What make de teahs roll down his cheek
From early dawn till broke ob day ?
Interrupting the song, Cupe lowered his violin, arose
and placed his chair before the man, but took no notice
of me.
"What are you doing, Uncle Cupe ? "
"Sah'rin'."
" Have you seen Susie ? "
" No sah."
156
Cupe's Advice to his Dog
" She disappeared last night."
" I hab n't seed nuffin ob her."
" I thought that perhaps she had returned to her old
home."
" She hab not be'n heah, an' I hab not seed de
chile."
" You are sure, Cupe, that you know nothing of her
whereabouts ? "
" I hain't seed her, I tole yo', an' I hain't hea'd from
her sense yo' took her 'way."
" You will help us search for her, Cupid ? You
know the land well, you will assist in her recovery ? "
" I hab had nuffin t' do wid de takin' ob de honey,
an' I will hab nuffin t' do wid de bre'kin' ob de spell.
De cheer an' de table talk ag'n last night, de doah shake
in an' out, an' Cupe wah waitin' fo' news ob trouble."
He dropped his voice, and added : " An' when
Dgawge Wash'n't'n an' Cupe go out t' trail de coon,
de headless dog come ag'n. Et wah down by the bars
wha' de ole man Doty wah killed, an de hant dog slip
close an' trot by Cupe's side, an' when Cupe walk
slow de dog widout de head go slow, an' when Cupe
move fas', de hant move fas'. An' nuffin but nigger
kin see dat sign ; ole Dgawge Wash'n't'n could n't see
de crittah. Et wah a monstrous bad sign, an' Cupe tink
ob de chile an' pray de Lawd dat de sign wah not pintin'
t' de yinnecent chile."
Mr. Wagner, realising that he was losing time arguing
with the superstitious old man, turned to go.
" Yo' had better look in de cabin befo' vo' lebe ; yo'
might feel es ef de nigger had 'varicated ef yo' doan."
Cupe opened the door, and Mr. Wagner stepped into
the room. Dinah sat beside the hearth with bowed
head, but no other person was to be seen. Cupe
157
Stringtown on the Pike
pointed to each corner, to the empty space beneath the
bed, and conducted his visitor into the loft, which con-
tained no visible objects excepting the iron chest, some
strings of dried corn, bunches of seeds and medicinal
roots and herbs that hung about the rafters.
Leaving the house, Cupe insisted on a search being
made of the shed-stable ; indeed, he seemed afraid that
some spot in which the child could be secreted might be
overlooked. As Mr. Wagner entered the door of the
shed-stable, my old black friend spoke to me in a low
tone : " Did yo' see de Red-Head Boy ag'in ? "
" No."
" Keep yoah eye op'n, peel yoah eye fo' dat chile."
Whatever else he might have said was lost, for at this
point Mr. Wagner returned from his fruitless search of
the shed and announced his intention to return to
Stringtown.
As the visitors departed, Cupe bestowed upon them
a very low bow, and having returned to his cabin and
seated himself on the familiar chair, reached up to the
hand of tobacco over his head, stripped a part of a leaf
and thrust it between his flabby lips.
" Come heah, Dgawge Wash'n't'n," he commanded ;
and the four-footed friend laid its lank head on the knee
of his master, who took its nose between his thumb and
finger. " Yo' hab work t' do, Dgawge, wo'k t' do t'-
night, Dgawge Wash'n't'n. When yo' hab wo'k t' do
keep yoah nose cool."
" Dinah," he cried, " Dinah, don't yo' gib Dgawge
nuffin t' eat till mahn'n."
158
CHAPTER XXV
THE HAUNTED HOLLOW
THE remainder of the day indolent old Cupe sat in
his chair, seemingly contented when awake, but it
would have been difficult to say just how much of the
time he was awake. Occasionally he hummed a negro
melody, again he would change the exhausted tobacco
leaf between his lips for a fresh one, but much of the
time with closed eyes he sat motionless. Just before
the setting sun reached the horizon its slanting rays
streamed into his face, and then he called to Dinah :
" Brung de ole slippahs ob de honey chile and call Dgawge
into de cabin an' den shet bof de doahs, an' keep him
dah."
Dinah obeyed without question.
Cupe took two tobacco-sticks and fastened the shoes,
one to the end of each. He began then to walk side-
ways, holding the sticks at arm's length, so that the
shoes hung near the earth far outside his own tracks. In
this manner he slowly passed along, and as he did so
caused the shoes to step as if a child were walking par-
allel with his own footsteps. Across the dooryard, over
the fence, down and across the little creek at the base
of the hill, he trudged, and then, making a circuit, he
came back again to the starting-place.
" De deed am done, an' now dis nigger '11 see ef
Dgawge Wash'n't'n am in fix fo' de work ob his life.
Let de dawg out, Dinah ! Come heah, Dgawge."
159
Stringtown on the Pike
The dog trotted out of the house. Taking the nose
of the brute between his thumb and finger, as he had
done before, the negro muttered : " Et am cool an'
pleasant like t' de touch — de nose am fixed fo' de
work. Yo' see dese slippahs, Dgawge ? " — and Cupe
held them before the eyes of the dog — " Yo' see dese
heah slippahs ? "
The dog whined gently.
" Yo' am no fool, Dgawge, but yo' bettah smell de
leather, fo' yo' hain't no time fo' 'stakes now," and
with these words the shoes were held to the dog's
nose.
" Now am yo' ready fo' de test ob yoah life,
Dgawge ? Go fin' Susie I Go fin' de chile ! Hunt
fo' Susie, Dgawge ! "
At once the old cur thrust his nose close to the earth
and began a zigzag trot about the dooryard. Cupe
watched him intently, and when he neared the trail of
the slippers became visibly excited. At this instant the
hound stopped ; raising his head and dropping his lower
jaw slightly, he gave a cry that stirred the heart of his
master with pleasure.
'' Yo' am tellin' de truff^, suah ! yo' am de crittah
what kin keep yoah nose cool ef de weddah am wahm.
Fin' Susie, Dgawge ! Go fo' Susie ! "
In reply, the dog started in a long lope with extended
nose scarce depressed toward the earth, thus showing
the acuteness of the trail ; following the exact course
of the circle Cupe had made, he returned to the starting-
point. " Yo' am a daisy of a dawg, yo' hab wo'k t'
do, but yo' don't git no suppah till yo' do et. Keep
yoah nose cool, Dgawge."
Carefully putting the slippers into his breeches'
pocket, Cupe, in obedience to the call of Dinah, step-
l6o
The Haunted Hollow
ped inside his cabin to partake of his own supper,
while the hungry dog lingered outside the door.
Returning after the meal was over, the old man
looked at the star-bedecked sky, from which the last
tinge of twilight was fast fading, and then glanced at
the spot where his dumb comrade rested.
" De hour hab come, Dgawge, de hour ob trial."
Slipping on a roundabout jacket that hung on a nail
near the corn-shuck chair, and thrusting into its pocket
a twist of leaf-tobacco, the old man turned to the open
door. " Dinah," he said, " ef yo' doan see de dawg an'
me befo' mahn'n, dah ain't no cause fo' feah."
" De moon doan rose 'til midnight ; what fo' yo' go
ahftah de coon now?" asked Dinah.
" Nebbah yo' min' de moon ; dah am uddah crittahs
dan coons."
" Yo' hab lef ' yoah ax, Cupe, yo' hab lef yoah ax ! "
cried Dinah, as her husband disappeared in the gloom.
" Dah am no need fo' de ax t'-night ; de crittah what
we hunts now am not in de tree no' in de grapevine
tangle."
The huntsman and his dog were now alone together
in the starlight.
Taking the path toward Stringtown, their course led
them toward the brow of the hill. But before reaching
the hill Cupe struck the toe of his left foot violently
against a projecting stone. He immediately stopped,
turned back, retraced his steps to the door of the cabin,
and then recommenced his journey, muttering :
" Ef et had be'n the right toe, et 'ud hab be'n a sign
ob good luck, but t' stump de lef toe am an ebil sign.
Dah ain't no resk t' be run t'-night. Dah ain't — "
The slave stopped, his bent body sunk yet nearer the
earth ; his mouth, still open, left the sentence incom-
" i6i
Stringtown on the Pike
plete. He heard a rustle in the grass just before him,
and then a full-grown rabbit hopped into the path, halted
momentarily, turned its great eyes, that yet glittered in
the dusk, full upon the negro, and with a bound crossed
the path and disappeared in the briars.
" De wussest sign what could be ; de rabbet nebbah
cross de paff outen de journey am leadin' t' hahm. An'
et stop t' say, ' Go back, go back, yo' nigger, go
back ! ' De crittah say et wid ets eyes. Monstrous
bad am de endin' ob de walk ob de man who go on when
de rabbet cross de paff ahead ob him, Dat wah not a
libbin' rabbet, fo' de dawg did n't see er smell et. Et
wah a hant."
Back to the cabin went the negro and taking two ob-
jects from a string behind the door, he carefully placed
them in his pocket. " De cha'ms wah fergotten, an' de
hant rabbet know et — de cha'ms t' keep off de hoodoo
from Dgawge Wash'n't'n an' Cupe. Now de start am
right."
Having thus corrected a grave blunder, Cupe moved
rapidly until he reached the brow of the hill. Leaving
the path at this point, he sought a small thicket, within
which, by daylight, could have been seen an enclosure of
stone that marked the foundation of an old building. At
each end of the ruin two piles of stones were crumbling
in the weather, the debris of the chimneys of the haunted
mansion.
" Dgawge," said the negro addressing his dog, " yo'
am in de sacredest spot on earf, de spot wha' de missus
slep' her las' sleep. De shinin' face ob de suff'in' chile
wah tu'n' t' glory from wha' stan' de 'simmon tree by
yoah side. An' Cupe he kneel on de flo' ob de mansion
what wah, an' hoi' de dyin' han'. De sah'rin' times
am back ag'in, Dgawge, de eye ob de missus look into
162
The Haunted Hollow
de heaht ob de nigger, de sweet face rise up an' speak
'bout de blos'm ob a chile she lebe wid Cupe an' Dinah."
The old man knelt in the grass and raised his face to
the star-lit heavens.
" De blos'm am an angel now a-singin' hal'ujahs wid
its muddah, but wha' am de Susie chile what take its
place ? Cupe am sah'rin' fo' de Susie gearl case he
swar' t' watch obah de new chile. Dgawge, yo' kin
smell tings what Cupe caint smell, but yo' caint see all
de tings dat de nigger kin see. Ef yo' could an' 'ud look
to'ard de ole well yo' 'ud see a man stan' — a man,
Dgawge — de ole ma'se dat hab walked an' walked an'
caint git no res'. He play keards when de chile wah
bohn an' swar' at de sweet missus once too many times,
an' fo' dat debbilment he hab t' walk de briar patch now.
Cussed be de man who bring trouble t' a young muddah.
Dah ain't no peace on earf, dah ain't no place in Heaben,
de debbil hab no use fo' sech a sperrit. Yo' caint see
him, Dgawge. Ef yo' could see what Cupe see, yo' 'ud
stick yoah tail 'tween yoah legs an' run home t' Dinah.
Come on, Dgawge, dah ain't no moah time fo' hant
seein', we hab work t' do t'-night."
George and his master started, and soon the cry of
the old hound floated in the air, and at once a whistle
loud and shrill broke from the lips of Cupe. " Come
heah, Dgawge ! Come back, Dgawge Wash'n't'n ! "
Obedient to the command, the dog came to his side.
"Yo' mus' n't act up any fool tricks t'-night, I tole
yo' ! De rabbet am all right when we hunt rabbet, but
et am not fo' yo' dis yocasion. No moah rabbet,
Dgawge," and the old man boxed the ears of his friend.
" Now walk b'hin' till I tole yo' t' hunt."
The negro strode forward, the dog, with hanging head,
following at his heels until the lights of Stringtown
163
Stringtown on the Pike
came into view. Stopping then, the old man crouched
in the grass and again spoke : " Dgawge, dah am no
coon, no 'possum, no rabbet t'-night. De time am come
fo' wo'k, an' ef yo' doan wo'k t'-night, de end ob yoah
life am heah." Feeling of the dog's nose, the negro
chuckled, and then taking the little shoes out of his
pocket, he held them before the eyes of the dog and
touched them once more to his nose. " Hunt fo' Susie,
Dgawge ! hunt fo' Susie ! slow," as the dog started off,
" slow, Dgawge ; de night am long."
The dog disappeared in the darkness, and Cupe, turn-
ing his steps so as to inscribe a circle about the String-
town lights, wended his way slowly over the uneven land.
From time to time he stopped to cheer the sagacious
hound, which could be heard pressing through the bushes
and occasionally, when on a ridge, could be seen pictured
against the sky. Old Cupe, accustomed to nocturnal
exploits with the dumb brute, knew exactly what he was
doing as he circled about, and needed nothing more than
the occasional sounds, that to an inexperienced ear would
have conveyed no meaning, could they have been heard,
to tell that the faithful animal was scouring every foot
of territory in the vicinity. At last the steps of the ne-
gro led to a grapevine thicket in a ravine, and soon from
its depths a loud howl came, a howl that to other persons
than Cupe would have sounded exactly like the cry that
led to the punishment of the dog at the time his ears
were boxed for trailing a rabbit.
The cry had hardly subsided before Cupe gave a
whistle, and soon the dog came to his side. " Dgawge,
de 'possum am sweet t' de taste when the sweet'-tatah
an' de frost am heah, but not t'-night. Yo' hab bettah
wo'k t' do dan tree de 'possum, Dgawge," and again the
patient creature's ears were boxed. '' Now min' yoah
164
The Haunted Hollow
nose, Dgawge," and Cupe touched it again with the little
shoe. " Hunt fo' Susie, Dgawge, hunt fo' Susie ! "
The ground was slowly covered, fields of corn,
open pasture, waste briar patches and woodlands. The
Stringtown pike was crossed below the village, and
on the return circuit crossed again above it, near the
home of Mr. Nordman, the old Kentucky gentleman ;
the Mt. Carmel pike was also crossed and the heavy
beechwood at the junction was passed, and yet no
evidence of the movements of the dog and master
could be heard other than the sound made by an oc-
casional broken stick or a rustle of the bushes. Then,
at last, the discouraged negro realised that he had com-
pleted the circuit of the village, for he stood near the
spot where the circle began. The old man called his
dog, and when he approached spoke to him as only a
deeply earnest negro of the olden time could speak to
a dumb brute. " De sign wah bad, fo' et wah de lef
toe, but did n't Cupe go back an' staht ag'in ? De ebil
ob de sign wah chahmed away, suah. De fault am not
wid de nigger, but wid de dawg. Yo' am not workin',
Dgawge, yo' hab been foolin' yoah time away." The
harangue ended with a threat and the information that
the village must again be tramped about, and that the
next circle must be larger. Again they started around
the village, but before doing so receded from the pre-
vious circle, so that this circuit would be much greater
than the other. Patiently they passed over the land as
they had done before, until the Stringtown pike below
the village was reached. At this point, just as the
negro prepared to climb the rail fence, he stopped and
then sank upon the ground. " Stan' still, Dgawge," he
slowly muttered ; " dah am dangah in de ole pike ; stan'
still."
165
Stringtown on the Pike
Peering through the rails, the kneeling negro saw,
first, two silent horsemen approach ; following which
came a troop of about a hundred men, riding two
abreast. When opposite the negro the troop halted, and
then from beneath an adjacent tree a slight figure stepped
to the side of the leader of the band, spoke a few words
and disappeared toward the village. The troop resumed
its way, and at last, about as far behind the cavalrymen
as the advance guard had preceded them, came the rear-
guard of two horsemen.
The tramp of the horses' feet, the occasional rattling
of a sabre against a wooden stirrup, the smothered
cough of an afflicted rider, and the cavalcade that had
been pictured against the starry skies disappeared in the
gloom.
" Dah am sorrah com'n' t' someone t'-night ; de
cav'lry doan trabel at midnight fo' fun. Befo' dis raid
am obah some rebel boy '11 be to'n from de muddah
what he come home t' see. Ef I knowed who dem
blue coats wah ahftah ! Damn dat young cuss, dah am
mischief in de air, but dah am uddah wo'k fo' Cupe
t'-night. Dah am trouble fo' uddahs as well es de rebel
boy."
He moved on; the two pikes were crossed, the
shadows of the beechwood were traversed and the
second circuit of the village nearly completed when a
cry from the dog broke upon the air, a cry that brought
old Cupe to a stop so sudden that the foot was arrested
in the air, slowly lowered, and then the negro fell upon
his knees. No whistle broke from his lips this time,
no scolding of George Washington, but in its stead the
murmured words : " De Lawd be praised ! stan' still,
Dgawge Wash'n't'n. De track ob de chile am foun'.
Steady, Dgawge, stan' steady, Dgawge Wash'n't'n."
1 66
The Haunted Hollow
Rising, he advanced to the spot from which the cry
had come, and kneeling again beside the dog the thank-
ful negro burst into tears and threw his arms about the
dumb brute's neck. As he knelt thus the full moon
slowly arose, for the night had half wasted away, and
yet not until it threw a broad glare did patient Cupe
give the command to move onward. Then he said :
" Slow, Dgawge. Go t' Susie, Dgawge. Steady, ole
man," and the dog leaped into the darkness.
The slow, creeping motion that had characterised the
movements of Cupe during the night now changed to a
trot ; the steps were long, and he rapidly covered the
ground. A howl came regularly from the throat of his
unseen leader, a howl that to Cupe's practised ear was
sufficient to keep him fast in the trail. He used his
eyes to avoid obstructions, but relied solely on his ear
to keep track of the dog. The moon rose high into the
heavens ; woodland, meadow, and thicket were trodden
with no change in the cry of the dog, no sound from
the lips of his master. The child had wandered in zig-
zag lines, had struggled through briars and bushes, over
hills and through valleys — if, indeed, the dog were
trailing the child. At last even Cupe grew doubtful,
and whistled, which signal was understood as a com-
mand to stop. On reaching the brute, who in obedi-
ence rested in his tracks, the negro spoke as follows :
" Am yo' lyin', Dgawge, am yo' lyin' or tellin' de
truff ? Ef de chile hab been wha' yo' hab trabeled, de
yinnecent hab walked her legs off. Am yo' lyin',
Dgawge ? " Stopping in the middle of the sentence, the
speaker reached out his hand and picked from a briar a
small piece of cloth, which he held before his eyes.
The light of the moon fell full upon the fragment, and
then Cupe completed the broken sentence — " An' heah
167
Stringtown on the Pike
am de ansah — yo' am tellin' de truff. Go t' Susie,
Dgawge, go t' Susie,"
Back and forth, in and out, the man followed the cry
of his dog that night, ever intent on the object of his
search, hoping each moment to hear the bay announcing
that the child had been found at last. But there came
no change of note ; the monotonous howl that first
struck the ear was maintained, until at last a great loop
had been made, and the step of the master, following the
cry of the dog, turned toward a spot well known to the
superstitious negro. Nearer and yet nearer they drew
to the point that disturbed the mind of the slave, until at
last he could no longer control his fear, but whistled to
his companion, and together they came to a stand on the
top of a grassy ridge.
" Yo' bettah go slow, Dgawge. Dah am dangah in
de air ef yo' go into de hainted hoUah widout de cha'm.
God bress de rabbet what cross de paff an' send us back
fo' de cha'm. Hole still, Dgawge ; " and taking from
his pocket a rabbit-foot attached to a string, the negro
hung it around the neck of his dumb friend. He drew
another rabbit-foot charm from the same pocket and
threw it around his own neck. " Go slow, Dgawge,
de debbil am in Bloody Hollah. God help de chile ef
de debbil fin' her dah." The rabbit-foot charm even
seemed not altogether to remove the distrust of the old
man, who glanced uneasily about as he moved slowly
into the valley. He mumbled to himself, possibly re-
citing a word charm, but still he kept bravely after the
yelping hound.
At this point, when the dog had reached the base of
the hill, he gave a yelp so diff^erent from the monotonous
cry that had preceded it that even an inexperienced per-
son would have noticed the change of tone. It was a
1 68
The Haunted Hollow
single, sharp yelp, followed by a loud, long cry that made
the valley echo. The negro rushed forward, careless
alike of ghost or goblin ; and there, reclining on the
grass, her head pillowed on a hillock that the slave knew
only too well, was the object of the search.
The dog stretched himself upon the earth, licking the
hand of his young mistress, and the moonlight threw its
mellow rays over the hollow.
The frightened negro wasted no time ; he raised the
girl in his arms and rapidly left the valley of evil omens.
His faithful dog, his night work at an end, weary and
exhausted, with hanging head, followed at his heels.
The grey of morning mingled with the moonlight as
Cupe opened the door of his cabin, where old Dinah sat
waiting for her husband. She gave a cry of joy as she
recognised her young mistress ; but Cupe, with the
proverbial gruffness of such as he, said :
" Shet yoah mouf, yo' fool nigger, an' doan yo' wake
de honey chile. Give Dgawge Wash'n't'n his suppah,
fo' he hab done his wo'k."
169
CHAPTER XXVI
DESPONDENT STRINGTOWN
OBLIVIOUS to the occurrences related in the pre-
ceding chapter, Stringtown slept. Extraordin-
ary events were required in 1864, to waken her people.
The tramp of cavalry had become a familiar sound. A
nocturnal raid had ceased to be novel. Long trains of
army wagons, the curses of mule-drivers, the crack of
black-snake whips, the sound of blows belabouring the
backs of the patient brutes, were constant day and night
along the dusty pike. The beating of drums, and the
music of bands, the singing of enthusiastic men in bright
new uniforms, the mirth that always accompanied the
recruit marching South to " glory," sounded in the ears
of our people so often as to excite no further comment.
The tramp of veterans when transfer of commands
brought old soldiers back from the war, men with whom
the lack of bluster and of mirthful singing was in marked
contrast to the behaviour of the new-made soldier, did
not disturb us. One looked forward to waving flags,
valiant cavalry charges, and pictured battle scenes in
which, amid cheers of comrades, the waving banner was
proudly carried on to the ramparts of the enemy : the
other had known war in its reality ; war which meant
burned dwellings, weeping mothers, children huddled
into groups, lands devastated, homes destroyed, distress
and famine, pain and suffering to the innocent •, and
these experienced no ecstacy in thinking of battle charges
where blood flowed from friend and foe, no pleasure in
170
Despondent Strlngtown
reminiscences even of success where fire, smoke and
death once prevailed. The places vacated by lost mess-
mates, and the shrinking forms of suffering children and
bereaved mothers, taught a sorrowful lesson to him who
had taken part in war.
We of Stringtown slept during the passing of the
squad of cavalry which Cupe saw tramping up the
pike, and we also slept while the same raiding troop
returned from a saddened household with a single pris-
oner, the rebel son of Mr. Nordman. And if String-
town's people knew nothing of this tramping of a
hundred horses, how could they have been aware of
the stealthy footsteps of the old slave who that night
had twice encircled their outskirts? Why should they
awaken, when from a distance the old hound raised
his voice beside the negro who searched for the lost
footsteps of the wandering child ?
But when morning came, with unabated energy the
search was resumed. Aid was solicited from the
country about, dogs were employed, but either the
trail had cooled or the strange dogs were not gifted
as was George Washington, for they found no trace
of the wanderer's track. A party of seekers strag-
gled to the cabin of Cupe, who sat as usual beside
the cabin door, his old dog asleep at his side.
"Yo' doan p'tend t' say dat yo' hain't foun' de chile
yit ? "
" No signs of her. Lend us George ; perhaps he
can strike the trail."
*' Yo' am welcome t' de dawg, but he am no 'count.
He am like his ma'se. He doan trail de 'possum an' de
coon now, he hain't got sense nuff in his ole head fo'
huntin'. Go wid de gem'n, Dgawge ; git up, yo' lazy
houn', an' go wid de gem'n ! "
171
Stringtown on the Pike
The visitors whistled to the dog, which listlessly and
with drooping head followed them from the door.
"Ya, ya," said Cupe, when the men had disappeared,
" yo' am buhn'n yoah candle at de wrong end when yo'
walk 'way from dis cabin. Yo' might es well look fo'
an eah ob cohn wid thirteen rows es t' look fo' de
gearl wha' yo' am gwine."
In a short time old George slunk back and resumed
his former location. Cupe still rested beside the door ;
Dinah sat in the back doorway ; no other person was to
be seen.
Stringtown's search continued until, after several days
had passed, hope departed from every breast. The child
was given up as lost. Rumours arose that could not be
traced to any authentic source, and yet were passed from
mouth to mouth, to the effect that Susie had straggled to
the pike and was found by a band of Northern soldiers
marching south, who carried the homeless waif away.
This rumour grew into accepted fact when a soldier
on furlough, returning from the front, stopped at one
of the Stringtown taverns and told of a child who, pet-
ted by her new-found friends, was now in the Army of
the Cumberland.
172
CHAPTER XXVII
" RED-HEAD "
"^"T^OOK yoah las' look at de ole plantation, Dinah,
JL res' yoah eyes fo' de las' time on de Ian' wha'
yo' wha' bohn. De fragrance ob de cohn when et am
in silk, de bread what yo' make wid de frosted 'simmon
an' de cracklin', de sweet-'tatah an' 'possum am no
moah fo' yo'. De Ian' ob yo' fahdah am no moah yoah
home ; trial an' sorrah am t' come fo' de two ole niggers
in de cole Canerdy country,"
Dinah, sitting in the doorway, made no reply, and for
a long time Cupe sat mute, lost in meditation.
" De ansah say dat de grabe hab cubbahed de body ob
de missus an' de body ob de ma'se, an' dat de blos'm
chile am dead an' buried an' dat Cupe hab done de long-
made promise out. Et say dat when de dead am satis-
fied de backwa'd work ob man am done."
Dinah looked into the face of her husband and asked :
" Am yo' suah de dead am satisfied? "
" Suah. Dinah, I is suah. De switch ob de weepin'
willah tree droop down an' hang long obah de spot
wha' Cupe stick de twig obah sweet missus' grabe ; de
cedah bough cubbahs de grabe ob de chile she call her
blos'm. Dah am no yallah clay t' be seen, but dah am
trouble yit. Dah am trouble com'n'.
" When Cupe go las' night t' wha' de ole house wah,
he feel de touch ob de sperrit ob de dead. He look at
de spot wha' de bed ob de missus stan' de night de
blos'm wah bohn, an' he speak t' de missus like es ef she
173
Stringtown on the Pike
wah by his side, an' den he lis'n fo' de ansah. Dah
wa'n't no sound ob voice, but de ansah come out ob de
air an' out ob de moonlight."
" What yo' see t' pint t' new trouble ? "
" When I sahch in de bed ob de sage, dah wah many
young sage plants growin' ; dey am moah dan a ninch
high. Et wah not a week sense Cupe scratch dat bed
obah, an' now de seed am up. Dah am trouble fo' de
man what plant de seed ob sage an' trouble fo' him who
let de sage seed sprout." ^
"De sage am a suah sign. But am de sperrit ob ole
ma'se satisfied ? "
Low and husky was the reply. " He am walkin' yit,
but dat doan consahn us niggers. He swar' at de un-
bohn babe, he cuss de new-made muddah, an' he mus'
walk fo' his own sins."
"An' Susie?"
" Et am fo' de good ob dat chile dat de change mus'
come t' yo' an' me. Kin we keep her cubbahed fer-
ebah ? She am sittin' in de cabin in de mahn'n an' in
de cabin in de ebenin'. She am in de cabin all day
long. She go out wid Cupe in de night fo' a brefF ob
air, but de eyes am heaby an' de mist hang low. She
mus' hab sunshine, an' dah ain't no chance heah."
" An' yo '11 lebe de home wha' yo' wah bohn, de Ian'
wha' yo' always lib, de grabe ob de ole fo'ks an' de
chillun fo' de sake ob de strange chile ? "
" Doan I tole yo' so ? "
" But yo' am not yoah own ma'se, an' I am not
yoah nigger. Yo' caint lebe an' I caint go."
" De papahs ob freedom wah drawn up by de missus
befo' she go t' glory, de papahs am ready fo' de Co'ht."
1 To plant sage seed is a sign of death or severe sickness to one
of the family.
^'Red-Head"
" Fo' bof ob us ? "
" Fo' Cupe."
" An' yo' 'ud hab Dinah run 'way like de fiel' nigger
do ? "
" Dah ain't no use in yargyin' wid a woman," indig-
nantly replied Cupe. " Shet yoah brack mouf, Dinah,
git yoah duds ready fo' de long journey."
At this point a slight change in the intensity of the
light in the room caught the eye of the alert old man.
" Tsh! " he whispered, " dah am a shaddah on de flo' ;
tu'n yoah eyeball back, Dinah, an' tole me what yo' see
befo' de back windah."
Cautiously the old woman raised her head so that a
side glance could be taken of the window back of Cupe.
" Et am a boy."
" An' de head ob de boy am red, Dinah ? "
" Suah."
" Wha' am Susie ? "
"Playin' wid de gourd doll."
" An' de boy kin see de chile ? "
*' He am lookin' at de chile."
" De deed mus' be done ; de Red-Head Boy hab seed
de gearl, de spell am wo'kin'. Dgawge" — and Cupe
addressed his sleeping dog — " Dgawge, ish! tree 'em,
Dgawge ! tree 'em quick ! "
Bounding through the open door, the dog made a
circuit around the house, and at once a cry of distress
came from the window where the head of the boy had
appeared. Shuffling through the door and around the
cabin, Cupe found the dog standing over the prostrate
form of the " Red-Head " Boy.
"An' yo' hab come at las', yo' ebil-spell chile!"
Cupe gave this welcome and glared down into the face
of the defiant boy, who scowled back at the old slave.
17s
Stringtown on the Pike
" An' so de debbil hab sent yo' es de spell p'dicted, yo'
red-head cuss. De spell what say dat Cupe an' Dinah
an' de chile mus' lebe dere home, an' dat when de doah
am closed at las' yo' will sit alone in de cabin."
Taking the prostrate boy by the ear, Cupe raised him
to his feet, and face to face the two scowled a moment
in silence. Then, still holding the ear firmly, the negro
led the boy to the door of the cabin. " Brung my hat,
Dinah, an' brung de bottle what stan' on de shelf."
" De bottle am empty."
"Did I ax yo' fo' a full bottle, yo' fool nigger?
What fo' yo' talk back ? Brung me de bottle on de
shelf like I says."
This order brought the desired bottle, a pint flask.
Putting it into his pocket, old Cupe spoke to the boy:
" Ef yo' fool wid Cupe, yo' am foolin' wid yoah life,
yo' East Kaintuck scrub stock. What fo' yo' stop in
God's country ? Why doan yo' go on t' Posey County,
Engiany, wha' de likes ob yo' belong ? "
The boy made no reply.
"I wah stan'n' by de Stringtown pike when de wagon
what held yoah debbilish carcass come down from de
Kaintuck mount'ns, an' jes den de ho'ses stop fo' res'.
Dah wah two scrawny ho'ses, foah dawgs, a coop ob
chickens, a man an' woman, a lot ob dirty chillun, an'
yoah red head."
No reply from the boy.
"An' when de quistion wah axed, 'Wha' yo' come
from ? ' de ansah ob de man what dribe wah, ' East Kain-
tuck mount'ns.' An' when de quistion wah axed,
' Wha' yo' gwine t' ? ' de ansah wah, ' Posey County,
Engiany.' "
Still there was no answer.
"Why yo' stop in Kaintuck, yo' red-head cuss?
176
"Red-Head"
Why yo' not go on t' Posey County, Engiany, wid de
tribe what bring yo' ? "
" Old Nordman is my uncle ; I came to live with
him," said the boy surlily.
"An' yo' brung shame on yoah uncle fo' habin' sech
kin. Yo' come from East Kaintuck t' lib wid yoah
Uncle Nordman, but de man who dribe dat wagon doan
go on ; he stop in de city an' jine in de blue coat army.
De moonlight am not bright, but Cupe am a nigger — he
kin see in de night. Dat feller wah de man who
cap'ned de cavalry on de Stringtown pike de uddah night,
when yo' slip from undah de tree an' whispah in his eah.
He wah de man."
"I'll get even with yo', yo' black nigger, fer I've seen
the girl, an' I'll tell where she es."
" Yo' will ? "
" Yes, an' I'll get the fifty dollars too. Mr. Wagner
hes offered fifty dollars fo' news of her."
"Pint yoah nose fo' home an' walk slow, yo' debbilish
imp ; ef yo' run, de teef ob de dawg '11 make yo' wish
yo' had gone on wid de East Kaintuck litter an' crost de
ribbah, wha' de likes ob yo' b'long."
The boy did not move nor say a word.
" Tu'n yoah face to'ard de pike like I tole yo' !
Move, yo' sorrel top, er I '11 pull dis eah out by de root."
The boy sullenly obeyed, but it was evident that Cupe
intended to accompany him. With the old dog in front
and the negro close behind, they started for the village.
Before reaching it, however, at the command of Cupe,
the course was changed, and passing through the fields
along the village outskirts the group reached the pike
near the house of Mr. Nordman, who, as usual on sum-
mer afternoons, was sitting on the front porch of his
home.
" 177
Stringtown on the Pike
On entering the yard Cupe took off his hat, and
bowed low to the owner of the house. After the usual
salutations had been exchanged, he said : " Dah am
sadness obah yoah face, Ma'se Nordman, an' I 'spec'
dah am sorrah obah de heaht ob de missus t'-day."
" Yes, Cupe, we are in trouble."
" An' well yo' may sorrah, fo' dah am trouble in de
house an' dah am trouble out ob de house. Yo' will
'scuse de nigger fo' sayin' et ? "
"Say on."
" Yo' am sah'rin' fo' de chile, de rebel boy, what
come t' see his muddah ? "
"Yes."
" How come de Yankee sojers t' fin' out he wah
home ? "
" God only knows. Uncle Cupe. I did not think
that I had an enemy in the world capable of stooping to
such an act."
At this juncture the Red-Head Boy attempted to walk
away. Cupe eyed him as he turned toward the corner
of the house and mildly observed :
" Chile, yo' need n't go ; bettah yo' stay an' heah de
conbersashun out, case Cupe hab sump'n' t' show yo'
in de pike when he go back." The boy took the seem-
ingly artless words as a command ; he returned reluctantly
and sat down on the edge of the porch.
" De Stringtown fo'ks doan know de rebel boy wah
home ? "
" Yes ; many of them called to see him, but no man
in Stringtown would inform on him."
" His bruddah, Ma'se Jim, de Yankee cap'n, had be'n
home too."
" Yes ; they met by appointment."
" Yo' hain't no cause t' spishun none ob de niggers ? "
178
^^ Red-Head'*
" No, Cupid ; not one but would have made any
sacrifice for that boy. His old auntie is crying now in
the cabin."
" Yo' hain't no cause t' spishun no one on de place
an' no cause t' spishun no one in de town ? Mon-
strous strange ! I 'spec' de Yankees jes happen t' come
in de night an' dey jes happen t' stop befo' yoah house.
Pow'ful cu'yus. Dey station dere men at de back an'
at de front ob de house — jes happen t' do it; dey make
a ring ob muskets in de moonlight all 'roun' de mansion.
Den dat loud knock come on de doah, de sleepin' chile
wah pulled out ob bed, de han'cuffs slip obah his wrists,
an' he wah put on de back ob one ho'se what jes happen
t' hab an empty saddle."
" Yes, so it seems," answered Nordman meditatively.
" De sojers come wid only one empty saddle ? "
No response.
" Dey go no fa'dah up de pike, but tu'n back ag'in ? "
No reply.
" De niggers wah cryin', de muddah wah cryin', de
ole man wah sw'arin' in hims heaht an' keepin' up a
monstrous t'inkin', he am t'inkin' an' sw'arin' yit. But
yoah t'inkin' doan do no good, de feller what tole on de
bov am not foun'."
" No."
" Do yo' know who cap'ned de blue coats ? "
" He did not come into the house. However, he
only did his duty unless — " the old man paused.
Suddenly changing the subject, the negro said : " Yo'
mus' 'scuse de pertness ob de quistions, but yo' know
dat Cupe hab b'en in trouble too ; " he held up his
branded hand and displayed the livid mark in its palm,
" an' dis am de fust chance he hab had t' git de inward-
ness ob dis painful yocasion. Cupe did n't come t' see
179
Stringtown on the Pike
yo' t' be 'quisitive, he come t' ax ef yo' 'ud do him de
kindness yo' hab done so ofFen ? "
A smile came over the face of the old Kentucky
gentleman, and he thumped with his cane on the floor of
the porch. A negro lad, dressed in a single garment
that was sleeveless, beltless, legless, (a Lindsey shift), in
obedience to the call soon stood before him.
" Pig, take Cupe's bottle."
Cupe took the empty flask from his pocket and
handed it to the lad.
" Fill it out of the second barrel in the far cellar."
Cupe made his best courtesy and the boy disappeared,
to return shortly, holding the bottle filled with the amber
liquid.
" T'ank yo', Ma'se Nordman, yo' liben de sperrit
an' gladden de heaht ob de nigger. Ef yo' wan' Cupe
t' sahve yo', a word am all yo' need say." He turned
to go, then suddenly resumed the thread of his former
conversation.
"Ef yo' fin' dat de feller what cap'ned de sojers know
de chile wah home an' set de trap t' cotch him ? "
" If I could find the scoundrel I 'd shoot him on
sight."
*' An' ef yo' fin' de feller what tole de sojers on de
honey ? "
" I '11 shoot him like a dog."
The old darkey chuckled, courtesied low and turned
again to depart. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought,
he said : " May de chile sittin' at yoah feet, de boy, yo'
am so kind t' come t' de pike wid Cupe ? Dah am a
cu'yus track in de dust dat might yinterest de boy."
" Go," said Mr. Nordman.
Passing together to the edge of the pike, as if they
were the best of friends, Cupe leaned over and pointed
1 80
"Red-Head'*
toward the smooth furrows in the dust ; but this was
merely a blind, for no track was to be seen.
" An' yo' come from East Kaintuck wid yoah moun-
t'n manners," he whispered. " Yo' eat yoah own kin-
fo'ks dah, yo' 'possum, an' yo' b'gin yoah debbilment
heah by bitin' de ban' ob de man what feed yo', an' who
hain't no spishun ob de sin in yoah heaht. De wicked
deed am done an' caint be undone, er Cupe 'ud squeeze
yoah neck like es de pahson did de colonel." Pointing
into the dust, the negro continued : " Yo' saw Susie in
de cabin ? "
The boy did not reply.
" Ansah de quistion ; yo' saw Susie in de cabin ? "
" Yes."
" Ef yo' say one word t' man er chile 'bout de gearl,
Cupe '11 tole Ma'se Nordman 'bout what he saw when
yo' meet de sojers on de Stringtown pike de night de
raid wah made. Ef yo' whispah de fac' to any man
Cupe '11 choke yoah life out fust, an' tell Ma'se Nord-
man 'bout who cap'ned de raiders second. So suah es
God made Adam, yo' debbil from East Kaintuck, ef
ha'm come t' de Susie chile, yoah red head 'II stop hatchin'
debbilment in de Ian' wha' yo' hab no bis'ness t' be.
Min' yoah mouf now, keep yoah han' off dat fifty dol-
lahs and sabe yoah neck."
Straightening up, Cupe courtesied once more to the
gentleman on the distant porch, and, together with his
dog, passed from sight.
I8l
CHAPTER XXVIII
SPIRITS
ETURNING to the cabin, the negro resumed his
usual position in the chair beside the door, first,
however, handing Dinah the bottle, which, in conse-
quence of having been sampled on his return trip,
was not now entirely filled. But before it reached her
hand the wary old man put his finger on the vial, close
to the upper surface of the liquid, and remarked : " De
lickah am heah, yo' kin see de top mark ; doan yo' let
none ob et sweat fru de glass while Cupe am gone."
Long he sat in meditation, chewing wisps of tobacco
which from time to time he stripped from the ever-
present hand of the leaf above his head. Finally he
arose, took a spade, and strode into the garden, back to
the graveyard. Digging next to the foot-stone that
marked the resting-place of his mistress of other years
he unearthed a large closed stone jar. Removing the
cover, he took out an oblong tin box, again covered the
jar, returned the soil and carefully sodded the disturbed
earth's surface. Taking the box in his arms, he carried
it to the stable, and there thrust it into an empty meal
sack, which he then threw over his shoulder. Return-
ing to the house, he spoke to Dinah : " Yo' know de
papah what de muddah ob Susie wrote an' lebe in yoah
charge ? "
" Yes."
" She say t' yo' dat ef de painfulness ob her life ebah
182
Spirits
had t' be known, dat de papahs wah t' be used fo' de
sake ob de chile."
" Dat am what she say."
" Brung me de papahs, Dinah ; dat time am come."
Dinah hesitated.
" Doan yo' heah ? Am yo' gittin' deaf er losin' yoah
senses ? Yo' bettah be keerful, yo' hain't got much
sense t' lose."
Dinah dived her hand into the corner of the cupboard
and produced a package neatly wrapped in newspaper,
which she handed to Cupe, who placed it in the sack,
which he threw across his shoulder and started for
Stringtown. The old dog with nose against the ground
trotting lazily at his heels. Dinah in the doorway
watched the retreating figure. Mumbling to herself,
and accompanying her voice with an occasional shake of
the head, she stood long after the form disappeared ;
then returning into the cabin, she glanced at the little
bed where Susie, tired of play, had carelessly thrown
herself and fallen asleep. She hesitated a moment and
then went straight to the mantel-piece, taking therefrom
the bottle Cupe had brought from Mr. Nordman's.
Carefully tying a thread around the bottle exactly on
the top line of the liquid, she uncorked the vial, raised it
to her lips and drank a deep draught, half emptying it ;
then, smacking her lips, she stepped to the water bucket,
and poured water into the bottle until the liquid's sur-
face struck the thread again, which latter she then re-
moved. Finally she replaced the bottle on the shelf.
" Yo' am a sly old fox, Cupe Hardman, yo' am a sly
ole coon, but Dinah — ." Whatever she might have
intended saying as a continuation of her soliloquy was
lost, for, glancing at the little bed, she again caught
sight of the sleeping face of Susie.
183
Stringtown on the Pike
Dropping on her knees, the old negress clapped her
lips upon the delicate hand that lay upon the white
coverlet, murmuring :
" De win' blow cole an' de snow am deep in de
Canerdy country ; de nigger lub de Kaintuck sunshine,
de sweet-'tatah an' de 'possum ; de grabe ob de ole fo'ks
an' de chillun am bery deah t' de brack fo'ks' heaht,
an' de cabin an' de fren's what lib in ole Kaintuck am
presh'us. But when Cupe say t' Dinah, fo' de good ob
de chile, de deed mus' be done, Dinah '11 let de fiah go
out on de cabin harf, an '11 close de cabin doah ; she '11
took a las' look at de ole home, an' wid Cupe an' de
honey chile '11 slip away in de night."
The head of the negress fell upon the coverlet, her
eyes sought the bottle on the mantelpiece. For a long
time she rested in this position, then attempted to rise,
but irresistible languor held her in place. She reached
up her hand, pointed to the vial, and wanderingly spoke :
" Yo' wah sweet t' de taste, yo' honey bottle, but yo'
caint tole Cupe nuffin, fo' de line am on de mark."
Her eyes closed dreamily and she mumbled : " De
Canerdy Lan' am cole an' de grabes ob de missus an'
de chillun in Kaintuck am deah, but fo' de good ob de
Susie chile an' de lub ob ole Cupe, Dinah '11 close de
cabin doah ferebah."
184
CHAPTER XXIX
cupe's story of the past
TRUDGING through the gathering dusk of the
evening, Cupe, with the sack on his back and the
dog at his heels, reached the outskirts of Stringtown.
He climbed the fence about one of the back lots, near
one of the frame houses, and struck an alley-way, that
led to the pike. Walking then along the sidewalk, he
reached the door of Mr. Wagner. Once before, bearing
the clothing of Susie, he had stood before that door, and
having delivered his bundle had retreated with heavy
heart. Now again with another bundle he stood on the
same spot, hat in hand, his white head conspicuous in the
gloom. Mr. Wagner opened the door, and recognising
Cupe, invited him in.
" You may drop your sack by the side of the door j it
will be perfectly safe."
" Ef et am de same t' yo', Ma'se Wagnah, I '11 sot et
inside de room."
" Certainly, do as you choose."
Cupe not only " sot et inside de room," but he
deposited it at his very feet, standing bareheaded beside
the odd-looking package.
Mr. Wagner made no attempt to induce the visitor to
be seated, knowing that Cupe's negro training would
not allow him to sit in the parlour of a white man.
Looking about the room, Cupe spied upon the wall a
trinket that once belonged to Susie. Beginning the con-
185
Stringtown on the Pike
versation after the manner of the negro, he addressed the
trinket instead of Mr. Wagner.
" An' wha' es de Susie gearl what carry yo' in her
han' ? Am yo' lonesome in de silence, do yo' lis'n fo'
de tongue ob de pert chile dat am gone ? "
Mr. Wagner could but feel a pang of remorse. He
knew that Cupe was speaking to him, though addressing
the inanimate trinket.
Turning from that Cupe directly asked : " An' hab
yo' hea'd any news from de honey gearl ? "
*' None, excepting the statement of the furloughed sol-
dier, who saw a child in camp before Murfreesboro."
" An' did yo' send a man t' see ef et wah Susie ? "
" Yes ; but he could find no trace of her. The
Army of the Cumberland is constantly changing its
location, and there has been heavy fighting. Cupe,
God knows that I thought I was doing my duty to the
child. Would that she were in her old home with you
again ! "
" Yoah yintention wah good, Ma'se Wagnah, an'
Cupe doan bear no blame t' yo'. De trouble wah dat
yo' tried t' cross Prov'dence an t' bre'k de workin' ob
de sign. Cupe hab t' say es how he am t' blame fo' de
crime, an' not yo'."
" You, Cupid ! Why, you begged for possession of
your charge. Your pleadings brought tears to my eyes,
your voice has never left my ears. Had I listened to you,
Susie would have been happy in your cabin now."
" Et wah de Co'ht an' not yo', Ma'se Wagnah. Yo'
did de biddin' ob de law, but de law am not es strong es
de sign, fo' de sign am de biddin' ob God. Et wah
Cupe who es t' blame, doan I tole yo', fo' he lose his
head when de day ob trouble hove in sight."
" How were you to blame ? "
l8^
Cupe's Story of the Past
" Ef Cupe had had his wits, he 'ud hab brought de sack
vo' see on de flo'. De fool nigger lose his sense."
Mr. Wagner looked inquiringly toward the sack.
"■ Ef yo' '11 lis'n t' Cupe he '11 tole yo' what he should
hab said de day yo' come fo' Susie."
" Go on."
Standing on the floor, the old man began his story.
He forgot himself, he lost sight of his hearer, his tongue,
keeping time with his vivid memory, became eloquent,
as the words fell from his lips.
" De day what perish long ago wah gone. Et went
into de da'kness when ole iMa'se Hardman wah foun'
dead in Bloody Hollah. De niggers shet demselbs in de
cabin, skeahed nigh t' defF. De witches wah plattin' de
ho'ses' tail in de bahn, de owl wah sittin' in de top ob
de hick'ry tree lookin' mighty wise, but sayin' not a
word. De sign wah in de air, an' Cupe go out in de
night an' look in de watah ob de spring an' read de
word. Et say dat young ma'se 'ud die on de New Yeah
night, es yo' know he did die, an' dat Susie chile 'ud
come es she did come, an' et say moah dan dat ; but yo'
am consarned only wid what et say 'bout de chile. An'
den de long yeahs pass, an' one mahn'n Cupe say :
' Ma'se, t'-morrah mahn'n 'bout day broke Bloody
Hollah '11 mix etself ag'in in yoah affairs.'
" ' Damn Bloody Hollah ! ' say de ma'se.
" ' A chile '11 be foun' by de lone grabe.'
" ' Shet up yoah nigger signs ! ' say de ma'se.
" ' An' de chile '11 come an' stay in dis cabin.'
" ' Close yoah lips, I tole yo' ! ' an', sayin' dat, ma'se
walk ofF.
" But when de grey ob de mahn'n come, Cupe wah
stan'n' by de doah ob de cabin, an' ma'se he op'n de
doah an' walk out, es Cupe 'spected him t' do. He
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Stringtown on the Pike
look kindah queer when he see Cupe stan'n' dah, an'
den he say : ' Cupe, yo' kin come wid me ; I 'm gwine
t' show yo' dat nigger signs am fool signs.' But Cupe,
he know dat de omen wah wo'kin' on de ma'se, an' he
keep his mouf shet, an' follud de ma'se, who go straight
fo' Bloody Hollah. An' when ma'se an' Cupe stan' on
de hill an' look fru de fog, sump'n' wah to be seed in de
hollah, sump'n' dat in de grey ob mahn'n wah mon-
strous queer lookin'. Et wah on de Bloody Hollah
grabe. An' ma'se he stop a minit kindah s'prised like,
an' Cupe raise his han' an' pint down into de Hollah
obah de shouldah ob de ma'se, an' say :
" ' De signs am come'n true.'
" ' Et am a cow,' say ma'se, an' tuhn back.
" ' Et am not a cow, et am de chile pinted t' by de
sign,' say Cupe, An' jes den de crittah rise up an' stan'
on de grabe. Et wah tall an' slim an' red an' white, but
de fog wah t'ick, an' only de colour an' de size could be
seed. Et wah an awful sight, a skeery ting.
" ' Et am not a chile,' say ma'se, an' he kindah
shiver.
" ' An' suah et am not a cow. Ef de sign am wrong
et am monstrous queer,' say Cupe.
" An' so ma'se stan' skeered like, an' Cupe wah kindah
solium case de sign wah wrong. De crittah wah not a
chile an' not a cow an' not like any uddah crittah. Jes
den de breeze raise de fog, an' et show a lone woman
holdin' sump'n' in her arms. De woman wah in a
white dress, an' de bundle she hole wah red es blood.
An' ma'se he look kindah cu'yus like at Cupe, an' den
he swo' a cuss word, an' down into de Hollah he go,
Cupe by his side. Befo' God, Ma'se Wagnah, et wah a
lone woman, an' in her arms she hole Susie wrapped in
a red shawl.
1 88
Cupe's Story of the Past
"An' ma'se he say kindah cross-like: 'Wha' yo'
come from ? ' An' de woman pinted to'ard de Norf.
An' ma'se, he ax : ' Wha' yo' gwine t' ? ' An' she
look down at de grabe. Ma'se, he stop a minit an' den
say : ' Yo' am not alone, uddah people am gwine 'long
on de same road, an' de soonah some ob dem gets t' de
end de bettah fo' de worl',' say ma'se.
"• Den ma'se look at de chile, an' kindah see sump'n'
in ets eye t' make him t'ink a minit es Cupe 'spected
him t' do when he seed dem eyes ag'in. He tuhns on
de woman sudden like an' say : ' What fo' yo' brung
dat chile heah ? Wha' yo' git dat chile ? '
" An' de woman say : ' Yo' know de look ob de eye
ob de chile ? Wha' else kin de chile go ? '
"*To de debbil, wha' ets fahdah gwine, de coward.'
" An' then ma'se look ag'in at de chile, an' say : ' De
eyes ob de chile go back t' de day ets fahdah wah young.
I see de sweet boy a-sittin' by my side ag'in. De dim-
ple' cheek, de white skin. De eye ob de chile befo' me
call back de day ob long ago.' Den he tuhn on de
woman savage-like : ' Woman, I swo' once by all de
gods an' debbils dat ef ebah de fahdah ob dat chile, er
kin ob de fahdah, sot foot on de ole farm, ets life 'udn't
be wufF de coppahs on a dead nigger's eyes. An' now
yo' brung de ole times back, de times when de ' — den
he bre'k ofF — ' damn de ole times ! ' he say.
" De woman look down at de grabe an' cry. De
chile look up into ma'se's face an' laugh, an' hole out
ets little arms, an' den Cupe spoke, fo' he see wicked-
ness risin' in ma'se's eye.
" ' Ma'se, yo' swo' ef ebah de fahdah ob dat chile, er
kin ob de fahdah, sot foot on de ole place yo'ud do
mu'd'h.'
"' Yes,' say ma'se ; ' an' one ob de varmints am heah
189
Stringtown on the Pike
now, an' I 'tend t' choke de life out ob de brat.' He
reach out his han', es ef t' grab de chile, an' den Cupe
step betwixt de two. ' Hole yoah han' ! ' Cupe say, an'
strike et down. ' De fahdah am not heah an' de chile am
not stann on de groun\ Yo' hab mu'd'h in yoah heaht,
an' hab no right t' act out de oaff les'n de chile am
stan'n' on de earf.'
" Ma'se stop a minit, an' den he say : ' Come t' de
cabin ! '
" An' de woman come. Dah wa 'n't nuffin moah
said, she jes come an' stay. De woman sleep wid de
chile in de loP, an' Dinah sleep on de flo' ob de loP, an'
Cupe sleep on de flo' ob de cabin room beside de bed ob
ma'se. But de sign wah come true !
" Ma'se he keep away from de woman an' nebbah
speak t' de chile fo' a long time. But he keep a mon-
strous lookin' at ets big, roun' eyes, an' moah dan once
Cupe cotch de tear drops stealin' down his rough cheek.
But Cupe doan say nuffin fo' feah et 'ud cross de sign.
" One day de muddah ob Susie say t' Cupe : ' Git me
some writin' papah.' An' Cupe when he go t' String-
town git a sheet. An' when he han' et t' her, she look
at et kindah cu'yus like, an' say : ' Et am not nuff. I
wan' t' write de story ob de chile.' An' Cupe nex' day
git a whole pack ob big-size papah an' a dozen bright
pencils. An' de muddah ob Susie take de papah an'
write an' write. De days come an' go, an' she write
an' write. Ma'se he doan say nuffin an' doan ax no
quistions. He had n't any writin' sense. An' at las' de
woman wrap de papah up an' write sump'n' on de out-
side ob de pack.
" Den nex' mahn'n she say t' ma'se : ' Dah am nusses
wanted down in Tennessy.'
" An' ma'se he say : ' A namb'lance train fo' de Souf
190
Cupe's Story of the Past
am campin' in de fiel' by de pond ob Mr. Nordman
now.'
" An' de woman say nuffin fo' a time, an' den she go
t' de cupboard an' take from et de red shawl what Susie
wah wrapped in de mahn'n she wah found in Bloody
Hollah."
Cupe paused and turned his eyes to a tiny, well-worn
shawl hanging from a peg in the wall, and in a solemn
tone remarked, pointing with his finger as he did so :
*' Dah am de bressed gahment now."
Then he continued : " An' den de muddah took de
chile in her arms an' cry. Ma'se he kindah feel dat
sump'n' wah come'n, an' he say : ' De war am not fo'
chillun.'
" De woman stop a minit, an' den she say : ' May de
chile stay ? '
" ' Yes,' say ma'se ; ' but ef de fahdah put foot on de
place, dah '11 be a grabe dug ; et '11 be fo' him er me.'
" Den she sot Susie in de little hick'ry cheer what
Cupe done made fo' her, an' clime t' de lof ' an' come
down wid de bundle ob papah an' lay et on de table.
" ' What am in de bundle ? ' ax ma'se.
"'A load ob sin.'
" She take from her pocket a little purse (Cupe held
up a silk purse) an' she lay et on de papah an' say : ' Et
am all I hab.' Den she pick Susie up an' kiss an' hug
her an' cry obah her, an' Dinah cry an' ma'se an' Cupe
kindah feel bery solium' like. ' Doan none ob yo' follah
me,' she say. ' De wages of sin am defF,' she muttah t'
herselb, an' tuhn from de doah. But ma'se an' Cupe go
out too, an' es de doah shet stan' by her side. ' What
'bout de papah yo' write ? ' ma'se ax.
" She stop an' look at ma'se an' Cupe, an' den
she say : ' Ef ebah hahm pint t' Susie yo' kin use de
191
Stringtown on the Pike
papah. Et '11 tole yo' wha' Susie hab de right t' lib an'
et '11 gib de chile de libin' she am 'titled t' er et '11 brung
shame t' de home ob a man who doan wan' no shame.'
" ' What am in de papah ? '
" ' De story ob a life ob sin.'
" ' An' de chile am mixed in de crime, de yinnecent
chile ? ' Cupe ax.
" ' Yes.'
" ' Yo' lie, yo' lie, yo' muddah ob de chile,' ma'se
say ; ' dah nebbah wah sin on an unbohn babe, an' no
sin hab come t' Susie sense she wah bohn.'
'' * Et wah case ob de muddah's sin.'
" ' Yo' lie ag'in ! De muddah what bear de chile, de
muddah what hole de chile t' her bos'm when de cussed
man hide hims head, de muddah what face de shame an'
face de worl' wid de chile in her arms am pure — by all
de gods she am pure ! Et am de man who sin', an' yo'
know et, de coward who sneak off an' lebe yo' t' bear de
chile alone, de cur who sit smilin' now. Et am nebbah
de muddah wid de chile on her bos'm, but always de
man who am de sneakin' dawg, de sinnin' brute, de
coward ! '
" Den de muddah ob Susie say : ' Ef yo' am right de
worl' am wrong, fo' de worl' say de chile an' de muddah
am de sinners. An' et wah case ob de sin dat I take
my chile an' go 'way fo' de good ob de fahdah, who am
safe.'
" ' But,' she go on, * ef trouble rise up an' yo' wan'
Susie t' stay in de cabin, let de story be read. De man
who de papah pints to '11 send money.'
" ' Damn de man an' damn his money ! ' say ma'se.
' Nebbah yo' min' de money ; when yo' am back from
de war yo 'II fin' de chile in de cabin, an' dah '11 be a
place fo' yo' ; but no place fo' his dirty money.'
192
Cupe's Story of the Past
" She turn t' go, den she stop ag'in. ' Be keerful
who reads de story ; et am not to' scandal tongue,' she
say. An' den she walk 'way. She go alone t' de
yamb'lance train ! " Cupe stopped.
" And did you hear nothing from her afterward ? "
Cupe took from his pocket-book the clipping of a
newspaper, which Mr. Wagner read aloud :
A NURSE KILLED
A shell from a rebel battery near Dallas, Georgia, Tuesday
morning struck and instantly killed a nurse. She came in an
ambulance train from Kentucky, but nothing is known of her
history. Heedless of her own safety, she moved about the
field, succouring the wounded of both armies. Careless of her-
self, in the thick of battle, while holding a canteen of water to
the mouth of a dying soldier, her life was suddenly destroyed.
Nothing that could give a clue to her identity was found among
her meagre effects, nothing but an addressed, stamped envelope,
in which was a request that in case of her death a simple state-
ment of the fact be mailed in the same envelope, and that no
effort be made to find her friends. Only this and the following
request added as a postscript : *' Please lay me out in white."
As Mr. Wagner ceased reading, Cupe broke in :
" She say, ' De wages ob sin am defF,' an' she am
dead, but befo' God, de sin wah not hern."
" A sad story, Cupid, but it is told too late. The
mother is dead, the child is lost."
" Ef de chile could be foun', Ma'se Wagnah ? "
" Impossible ! "
" 'Ud yo' gib de keepin' ob de chile t' de brack
fo'ks ? "
" The child is gone.'^
Cupe leaned over, opened the sack at his feet, took
from it the oblong package of manuscript handed him by
13 193
Stringtown on the Pike
Dinah, and said : "When de candle am Ughted t'-morrah
ebenin' in de grocery Cupe '11 come t' de grocery-store
meetin'. Yo' hab de papah written by de woman lyin'
in de battle groun' ob Georgia. Ef yo '11 read de lines
p'raps yo' would raddah de chile stay wid de nigger."
The negro turned to the door : " De writin' am only
fo' yo' ; et am none ob Stringtown's consahn." The
door closed and Mr. Wagner retired to his room.
When morning broke, the village clerk sat in his
chair; the manuscript before him had been read a
second time ; his head rested on his hand, the lamp
still burned, for Mr. Wagner, in deep reflection, gave
no thought to the passage of time.
194
CHAPTER XXX
CUPE PURCHASES HIS WIFE
CUPE after leaving Mr. Wagner did not go directly
home. Instead, with the sack over his shoulder,
he sought the dwelling of Judge Elford. Once before
he had passed from door to door of these two houses,
and this second reception at the home of Judge Elford
was nearly a repetition of the first one. The negro was
invited into the sitting-room, and in kindly tones asked
to state his business.
Glancing about, he threw in a side remark, by way
of introduction :
" De bot'm ob de cheer yo' wah sittin' in am in
trouble ag'in, Ef yo '11 let de nigger took et home, he '11
put in a new bot'm ? "
" All right, Cupe," said the judge, knowing well that
this was not the business which brought his caller at
that hour.
'' Et am many yeahs sense Cupe larn' t' bot'm cheers.
De cohn-shuck twist am hardah dan de hick'ry strip, an'
de hick'ry bot'm las' de best."
" Let it be a hickory bottom."
" Lawd, de dimes an' qua'tahs what Cupe made
bot'min' cheers fo' Stringtown fo'k," the old darkey
remarked, and reached again into the sack ; taking
therefrom the heavy oblong tin box, he stepped defer-
entially to the desk of the judge and placed it before him,
inserted a tiny key into the lock, turned it, raised the lid
and stepped back,
195
Stringtown on the Pike
Beneath the cover lay a neatly folded paper, which
Judge Elford opened and read at Cupe's request. Then
he looked in surprise at the negro and remarked :
" Your freedom, Cupe, you are a free man ! These
papers were drawn up fifty years ago ; they are properly
signed and witnessed."
The old man chuckled. " Dah am 'nuddah papah,"
he said.
" Yes," the judge continued, reading again : " This
paper is a bill of sale. In consideration of twelve hun-
dred dollars, to be paid by Cupid Hardman to the legal
heir of your recent master, Dinah is to be freed."
Again the negro chuckled : " An '11 yo' count dc
money in de box ? " He leaned over, by an effort
carefully inverted the box on the desk, and raised it.
Within were coins of every size and description. The
astonished judge, though rejoicing in his humble friend's
triumph, was reluctant to undertake the tedious task
suggested by the negro, who himself realised that it
was a task.
" Dah am 'zac'ly twelve hund'd dollahs. Yo' kin
take yoah time t' count ct." The wrinkled fingers of
the slave playfully stirred the medley of coins. Picking
up a silver dollar, Cupe scrutinised it closely, saying :
" De mark am on yo' yit — de mark ob de file. Kin
yo' memberlec' de night yo' wah handed to Cupe, de
night ob de shiveree ? De bright young missus in de
house on de pike han' yo' t' Cupe, an' say : 'Fo' waitin'
on de table, Cupe.' God bress her sweet face ! Cupe
sees her yit es she smile at de nigger dat wed'n' night,
de night she marry Ma'se Nordman. But de face am
sah'rin' now — one chile wearin' de Blue, de uddah
wearin' de Grey."
Unwrapping the tissue paper from a five-dollar gold
196
Cupe purchases his Wife
piece, Cupe abruptly addressed the judge : " Did yo'
ebah see dis shinin' piece befo' ? " Then continued,
without v/aiting for an answer : " An' why should yo'
know de coin from ets bruddahs ? Yo' hab seed many
like et, suah. But Cupe mahked dis beauty, an' heah
am de mahk." He pointed to a tiny cross. *' Do yo'
min' de day Cupe hole de strap an' let de coffin ob de
missus down into de earf ? An' do yo' min' dat es
Cupe pass yoah doah dat night yo' came out an' slip
de shinin' gol' into his han' ? Dis am dat coin, Ma'se
Elford." Cupe turned it slowly between his fingers.
" Et am es bright es de day et wah buried, an' de face
ob de angel missus in Heaben am shinin' bright es dat
gol'. De grabe caint rub de shine off de gol' yo' gib in
her name. But dah ain't no use in sech memberlectins.
De money am all honest now, fo' Cupe made et square,
but de Lawd knows wha' some ob et hab be'n."
The negro paused in his speech, and fingered the
gold. The judge was silent. Evidently his thoughts
were in the solemn past, which had been recalled by
Cupe's artful tongue. By and by he asked : " Is this
money for the purpose of buying your wife, Dinah ? "
" Et am. Dis nigger hab be'n sab'n' de money fo'
de pu'pose. De patch ob t'backah what he raise in de
Satuhday afternoon am buhned long, long ago ; de rabbet
what he sell t' Stringtown fo'ks am gone, an' pow'ful
many ob de fo'ks what eat et am dead ; de cheer bot'ms
what Cupe put in hab been wo'n out, but de money dey
brung am safe. Yo' kin count et at yoah ease, Ma'se
Elford ; et am all dah." He turned to the door.
" Take the papers, Cupe, your own and Dinah's
freedom papers." The negro hesitated. " Ef et am de
same t' yo', Ma'se, de papahs an' de money may stay
t'geddah. Mebby dah won't be no use fo' de papahs.
197
Stringtown on the Pike
Cupe doan wan' no disgrace on his head, an' doan 'tend
t' hab no disgrace."
" Explain your meaning."
" Ef some mahn'n de cry come t' Stringtown dat Cupe
an' Dinah am gone, ef de cabin am empty an' de doah
locked, ef dah hain't be'n no good-bye said, de fo'ks ob
dis heah town '11 'cuse Cupe an' Dinah ob stealin' dem-
selbs an' runnin' 'way t' Canerdy. Ef sech tings come
will yo' Stan' in de co'ht an' show dat freedom papah ob
Cupe an' count dc money he pay fo' Dinah into de box
ob de co'ht ? "
" I will."
" An' sabe de honah ob de two ole slabes ? "
" You may depend upon it."
Again Cupe turned to the door, and again he stopped.
" But ef Cupe an' Dinah keep libin' in de cabin, bettah
yo' keep de papahs an' de money, an' keep all de fac's
t' yo'selb ; an' ef Cupe an' Dinah die in de cabin, de
papahs am t' be read by de preachah at de grabe's side,
fo' Cupe wan's t' go into Heaben free, an' t' hab a free
wife too."
" And the money ? "
" De money am fo' Susie, ef she ebah am foun'."
" Susie is gone forever."
" Do yo' 'member what Cupe tole yo' de night he
Stan' in dis room an beg fo' de chile ? "
" Yes."
" He say : ' De law say dat de chile caint lib wid
Cupe, but de sign say dat she mus' lib wid Cupe.' An'
Susie am gone ferebah, yo' say, but Cupe b'lebe in de
sign, an' Cupe say dat she am not gone, but '11 come
back when de law am out ob de way."
" What do you mean, Cupe ? "
" 'Ud yo' let her stay wid de brack fo'ks ef she wah
t' come back ? " 198
Cupe purchases his Wife
The judge looked quickly at the earnest old slave and
a sudden light came over his face. " Yes," he impul-
sively added, " if Susie is found her home may be with
you until she asks to go elsewhere."
" An' so God am greatah dan de law," said Cupe.
" Yo' may fold dem papahs 'way, Ma'se, case Cupe doan
'tend t' be freed. Ef he wah a free man he could n't
stay in de cabin. Et am monstrous pleasant t' be a
slabe an' not t' worry obah de rent er feed. Et am
pow'ful satisfyin' t' de soul t' open de eyes in de mahn'n
an' see de cohn a-growin' an' heah de chicken an' de
duck crowin' an' a-talkin' an' t' know dat de flour sack
an' de meal bah'l am full. Cupe an' Dinah '11 jes wait
in de cabin an' be slabes 'til dey die, an' ef Susie comes
back t' Stringtown she '11 fin' de cabin doah open an' de
cubbah spread on de table. Jes sot de money to 'side
fo' her in case ob a rainy day, an' read de papahs ob
freedom obah de grabe ob de niggers, an' den gib de
money t' de Susie chile." Cupe backed out of the
room and closed the door behind him.
The lamp that threw its light over the open book
wherein Mr. Wagner once had read the lines that saved
Cupe, " By Right of Clergy," lighted the desk, now
weighted with coin collected during that man's many
days of bondage. As the door closed the judge mur-
mured : " Thank God the negro has found the child,
but how can I explain to Mr. Wagner that he must give
up Susie ? "
199
CHAPTER XXXI
" A FEARFUL SIGN "
THE edge of winter, moving down from the North,
had brought mist and cloud. The air of the
day just passed had been saturated with gloom and
shade. The clouds hung low ; they scraped the tree-
tops in the woodland on the hill, but no rain had fallen
from their sombre folds. Instead, cool breezes arose
that grew cooler as the day sped and fairly cold when
evening came. If the sun moved across the heavens
that day no ray from it reached the earth. The pre-
ceding night had turned directly into leaden day, the
dreary day had worn itself out and disappeared in gloom ;
there had been no twilight of morn or eve, there had
been no blending of light and darkness.
When Cupe stepped into the house of Mr. Wagner
it was still daytime, yet the lamp was lighted ; when he
stepped out again night had come, but no brighter lamp-
light was needed than before the day had fairly sped.
There was no moon, but had there been a full moon
high in the heavens no ray could have pierced that thick
cloak. The heavens and the earth were hidden from
sight. When Cupe left the door of Judge Elford the
darkness above and below had run together ; distance
had disappeared ; there was no near, no far.
Never before had that night-loving man felt the
200
*'A Fearful Sign"
weight of darkness. He stood in the street and rubbed
his eyes;, opened them wide, muttered and stood ex-
pectant, but saw no light save an occasional window
gleam, which served but to deepen the surrounding
blackness.
" Et am monstrous strange fo' a nigger t' be caught
by de da'kness, et am s'prisin' cu'yus. When a nigger
sleep et am in de sunshine ; de sof'ness ob de sunshine
am soovin' t' de eye. When de night-time come, do
cat, de dawg, de coon, de 'possum an' de nigger am on
dere feet. De night-time am de time fo' de brack man
t' be awake, de daytime am de time fo' de nigger t'
sleep. An' so et wah in de hot Guinee country Cupe's
gran'dad come from, when eb'ry creature sleep in de
day an' run in de night. Dat habit am wid de nigger
yet."
Cupe struggled along, aided by the slender light that
came from an occasional window, until he turned into
a field below the village. Then impenetrable darkness
closed in upon him ; the tree-top, waving above, made
no mark against the sky, the horizon gave no streak to
lighten the gloom ; above and below the deepest dark-
ness reigned.
Suddenly to the right he caught sight of a moving
light that floated slowly in a horizontal direction over
the earth, seemingly a few feet above its surface. The
eyes of the negro were riveted on the phenomenon,
which — a globe of light, not a flame — flitted in and
out of sight as it passed behind a clump of bushes or a
tree trunk, to reappear again. Following the undulating
surface of the ground, it moved steadily along, now to
the right, now to the left, but ever onward toward the
spot where stood the man whose eyes were fixed on the
strange illumination, which was neither spark nor flame
20I
Stringtown on the Pike
nor any form of fire. There was no wind. The negro
thrust a finger into his mouth, withdrew it and held it
in the air above his head, but no touch of coldness came
to either side j and still the glimmer flittered back and
forth, careless alike to path or road, drawing closer with
each change of direction.
When but a few feet from the negro its direction
changed, and then for the first time it started straight
for his person, floating about a foot above the earth.
This final action was responded to by the old man, who,
until this time, but for the single movement by which
he had tested the wind, had stood like a statue. With
a motion strangely rapid for one so aged, he jerked his
coat from his person, quickly turned the sleeves wrong
side out, and then drew it on again. The globe of light
vibrated as if in response to the action, tremulously
moved up and down like a lantern in a wave-rocked
boat, then turned to the right, passed about five feet
from the negro, and proceeding now in a direct line dis-
appeared in an adjacent thicket.
" Yo' cussed Jack o' Lantern, an' ef yo' had got on
dis nigger's back yo' 'ud hab rode him 'til mahn'n. But
Cupe know how t' circumbent yo', yo' debbil's light.
No Jack o' Lantern dare tech de man who w'ars de coat
wrong side out. Yo' sly cuss, yo' wabbled about es ef
yo' wah not keerin' fo' de nigger, but yo' caint fool dis
chile. Lawd, but et wah a close call ; fo' ef yo' had
come from b'hin', yo' 'ud hab jumped on de nigger an'
rode him till de light ob day. Niggers hab be'n cotched
by de Jack o' Lanterns and rode all de libelong night,
obah de hill, fru de briars an' in de grabeyard. An'
when dey come home in de mahn'n, tired an' near 'bout
dead, de ma'se say dey hab be'n out t' a shindig dance ;
but et am God's fac' dat de Jack o' Lanterns cotch
202
"A Fearful Sign"
niggers what doan know de coat sign, an' ride 'em like
es ef dey wah ho'ses." ^
His quick ear caught a familiar sound, the breaking
of brush, caused by the motion of an animal in a
briar patch. A smile broke over his face and he joy-
ously called out, " Come heah, Dgawge ! " and the
dog's cold nose soon touched his hand and his side
rubbed against the negro's leg. Reaching his hand into
his pocket, the slave took therefrom a roll of twine ;
one end of the string he tied about the neck of the dog,
the other he held in his hand. " Keep in de pafF an' go
home, yo' fool ! " ordered the master, and together man
and dog moved onward. " Dis am a monstrous shame
t' any nigger, an' t' t'ink dat Cupe should ebah feel de
disgrace ob such a ting es dis. Et am lucky dat et am
night, fo' de shame am moah dan Cupe could bear in
daylight. But de dawg caint tole nobody, an' nobody
but de dawg am heah t' see de shame ob de nigger. Et
am a monstrous shame, an' et am a fearful sign ; de
Lawd only knows de meanin' ob sech a sign."
^ If the old negroes did not believe that to wear a coat wrong side
out would protect them from the " Jack o' Lantern " they affected
as much. They also affected to believe that the negro caught by
one would be ridden until morning.
203
CHAPTER XXXII
THE SPIRITS AFFECT DINAH
STEP by step these companions, the faithful brute
and the bonded slave, had journeyed from String-
town, until now the dog's nose was prone against the
front door of the cabin, which Cupe could not see.
*' Dah hab be'n f 'mil'ar signs 'long de pafF, but de dawg
caint talk an' de da'kness ob night am cubbahin' de way.
Dah wah a roun' rail on de las' fence we climbed, et
wah suah de fence what once stood befo' de cabin, but
dah ain't no cabin heah. Ef de ebil sperrits hab mobed
dat fence an' bent dat pafF t' fool de ole man, dah am
trouble befo' his steps, an' he mus' move monstrous
keerful. De debbil may be restin' at de end ob dis walk.
An' de dawg won't move no moah. Et am de fust time
dat dawg hab gone back on his ma'se. Go home,
Dgawge Wash'n't'n ! " A jerk at the string, and the
dog in reply bayed long, tremulously, and stood still, his
nose close against the cabin door. " Et am a painful
howl yo' am makin', Dgawge. I hab nebbah hea'd sech
talk befor'. De voice yo' speak when yo' tree de coon,
de 'possum er de rabbet am plain, but Cupc nebbah
hea'd yo' talk befo' like dis. What yo' see t' make
sech talk es dat ? An' only t' t'ink ob de shame ob de
nigger." Suddenly he raised his head, snufFed the air,
and dropped the string. " Et am t'back, et am de han'
ob backey what hang 'side de cabin doah. De smell am
not t' be mistook'n." Again he snufFed the air. " Et
204
The Spirits affect Dinah
am de cabin yo' hab treed, Dgawge ; yo' nebbah treed
de cabin befo', an' dat es why yo' talk so strange."
Reaching out his hand, the door was found, and Cupe
at once gave a loud rap. There was no response.
Again he knocked, with no better result. Cupe slowly
moved his fingers over the door. The latch string hung
out. " Befo' de Lawd, an' what am de mattah wid
Dinah ! " Opening the door, he groped about inside,
reached the mantelpiece, struck a match, and lighted the
candle. The child lay asleep on the little bed. Dinah,
with head thrown back so that it rested on the edge of
the bed, lay sprawled upon the floor.
" By de bones ob my gran'pap ! "
No other word did Cupe utter, — that unusual expres-
sion, a relic of his old master, expressed the depth of his
surprise. Stepping to the prostrate form, he held the
candle before the sleeper's lips ; the flame leaned out-
ward ; breath was there. Raising it slightly, he moved
the light back and forth before her eyes. No move-
ment. " Et am monstrous strange," he muttered.
Kneeling, he placed his nose close to her lips, and at
once a scowl spread over his black face. " De cause
am cleah ef de night am da'k." Cupe stepped to the
mantelpiece, and grasping the bottle, held it before the
light. " De cause am not so cleah," he mumbled, as he
saw that the surface of the liquid marked the exact spot
where he had left it. Shaking his head, the old negro
uncorked the bottle and raised it to his nose : " Et am
lickah." He thrust the neck into his mouth, his flabby
lips sucked about the shoulder of the bottle, gurgle after
gurgle followed, and when he replaced the flask more
than half the contents had disappeared, " Et am a
shame," he muttered, " et am a shame dat a gem'n
mus' swallah so much watah fo' so little lickah."
205
Stringtown on the Pike
Grasping Dinah by the shoulders, Cupe gave her a
violent jerk, which raised her fairly upon her feet ; and
as she opened her eyes, he thrust the woman upon a
wooden-bottomed chair with a shock that brought her to
consciousness. Standing before her, Cupe shook his fist
close to her face and said, in a deep, dramatic tone :
"Dah am direful signs t'-night ; dey come from in de
cabin an' out ob de cabin, from de air an' from de earf."
Dinah, dazed and drowsy, only stared back at the old
man, who continued : " De signs am t'ickenin' an'
pintin', but de debbil only knows wheddah de end am
good er bad."
Still no reply.
" But de signs am not so worryin' es de nigger's dis-
grace."
" What disgrace ? " queried Dinah, rubbing her eyes.
" Dah hab be'n double disgrace on Cupe dis night."
" What done disgrace yo' ? "
" Cupe hab queered hisse'f, fo' he hab be'n los', an'
yo' hab brung disgrace t' him too."
" Dah hab be'n no disgrace ob yoah wife, ef yo' hab
be'n los'," retorted Dinah, with offended dignity.
" Dah hab be'n two disgraces ob Dinah. Yo' hab
be'n drunk, an' yo' hab stol'n lickah. Dah am no wus-
sah a sin dan t' steal lickah."
•■' Befo' God, Cupe Hardman, dis nigger hab n't seed
ner teched a drop ob lickah fo' a yeah ! "
" An' dah am now anuddah disgrace, fo' yo' hab tole
a lie. De debbil hab got yo,' suah."
" De bottle am jes' es yo' lef ' et, Cupe Hardman ; et
am on de mantelpiece an' am full." She turned her eyes
to the vial, and was startled to find it half emptied.
" De bottle am 'witched ; et wah full t' de line," she
added.
206
The Spirits affect Dinah
Cupe held up his hand, motioning her to cease speak-
ing, but the alarmed woman continued :
" De ebil sperrits am in de house, dey hab be'n in et
all day. When Dinah heat de graby in de skillet an'
poah de watah out ob de cup into et, de skillet fly into
pieces. De debbil broke dat skillet, suah."
" Yo' wah drunk, yo' fool, an' dreamed yo' poahed
watah into de skillet, but yo' poahed et into de bottle.
Yo' drunk a gill ob whiskey, an' den yo' fill de bottle up
wid watah, an' hab be'n dreamin' like a drunken nigger
dreams. De debbil '11 git yo' lyin' soul." Dinah
pointed to the hearth, where fragments of the vessel
were scattered. " Do de dream bre'k a skillet ? "
Cupe, more disturbed by the evidence of the broken
skillet than he cared to admit, said solemnly : " Yo' hab
be'n pow'ful wicked. Yo' know yo' drunk de lickah."
" An' what ef I did took a drop, yo' hain't no cause
t' jaw. Yo' bettah clean yoah own toof befo' yo' pick
Dinah's."
" What yo' mean t' 'sinuate .'' "
" Wha' yoah million patch, Cupe Hardman ? "
" What yo' talkin' 'bout ? "
" De night de fust singer sit in de tree an' sing, six
weeks ago t'-morrah night, yo' slip out ob de cabin an' wah
gone 'bout an hour. Yo' come back wid two watah-
millions in de meal sack 'cross yoah shoulders."
" De cause am easy t' 'splain."
" Yo' got no million patch, yo' stealin' nigger."
" I tole yo' de cause am easy t' 'splain. De million
yo' foun' in one en' ob de sack wah growin' cross de
pafF, an' Cupe jes ease de paff, fo' feah et hurt some
fellah's foot."
" But de uddah million."
" De sack wah lop-sided den, an' Cupe could n't
207
Stringtown on the Pike
carry et. Et wah a sin t' waste de fruit, so he go back
an' eben de weight by sHppin' ets mate from jes inside
de fence an' put et into de uddah end."
" Bettah yo' say nuffin 'bout de drop ob lickah, Cupe.
Et wah pow'ful sweet t' de taste, an' so wah de millions.
Dinah taste em bof, an' am gollified t' speak."
" Dinah, fo' de sake ob de smoove argyment yo' make,
dah will be fergibness dis once, but ef ebah yo' does sech
a ting ag'in, so suah es my name es Cupe Hardman
I '11 sole yo' down Souf."
" Yo '11 sole me Souf, yo' nigger ! yo' bettah own
yo'selb befo' yo' talk 'bout solin' uddah fo'ks ! "
" Dinah, yo' am in my pocket. I bought an' paid fo'
yo' t'-night, an' ef ebah yo' disgrace yoah owner ag'in
es yo' hab dis night, yo' bettah look out, fo' de tramp t'
Georgy am sahtin suah."
" An' hab yo' bought yo'selb too? "
" Yes."
" De Lawd be praised, Cupe ! I know yo' hab be'n
sabin' money fo' fifty yeahs, an' I know yo '11 use et
when de time come. Ef we am free niggers, we kin
walk t' Canerdy in de daylight."
" Et am de sacred truiF, Dinah ; yo' hab got sense
nuff t' see in de daytime, ef yo' am a woman. A
woman am like a dish-rag, Dinah, she am monstrous
convenient in her place, but ef she git out ob et she
ain't wuff nuffin t' nobody. Doan yo' fergit yoah place,
Dinah."
This diversion changed the current of Cupe's
thoughts, and he dropped at once the subject of Dinah's
failings and recurred to his personal misadventure.
" Dah wah 'nuddah sign, an' et wah a disgrace t'
Cupe. His eyes wah los' t'-night, an' de nigger had t'
tie hisse'f t' de dawg t' fin' de cabin,"
208
The Spirits afFect Dinah
" Wah yo' drunk ? " The wife's eyes twinkled.
" Et wah sperrits suah, but ebil sperrits, not lickah,
an' de en' am not yet."
" P'raps de same ebil sperrits shet yoah eyes, Cupe,
what take de lickah out ob de bottle t' git Dinah into
trouble."
" Zacly," said Cupe ironically ; " but yo' bettah be
keerful dey doan do et ag'in. De bodin' signs am
thick'nin' up. Keep yoah eyes peeled, an' be ready, fo'
ef de workin' ob de sign am ebil, de cabin doah '11 close,
an' yo '11 staht wid Cupe fo' de Norf in de night-time."
M 209
CHAPTER XXXIII
OLD JEW MOSE AND SAMMY DREW
THAT night I sat in our home by my mother's
side, brooding over the humiliations my apparent
dullness daily brought upon me at the Stringtown school.
Hitherto I had borne the stigma in dumb, indifferent,
careless fashion, but as perceptions quickened, my short-
comings that had long been manifest to others, suddenly
flashed into mental view. Shame reddened my brown
cheek, and realizing that the Stringtown school was no
longer the place for me, I implored my mother to allow
me to seek instruction elsewhere. Never in Stringtown
could I win the respect of my comrades nor of myself, nor
regain the ground that had been lost. That distasteful
front row at school, where I sat among the little boys,
— the hateful scene, daily enacted, left an indelible im-
pression upon me, and all these humiliations were vivid
at this moment. At last it became impossible to restrain
my grief and I cried in despair, " I cannot go back, I
cannot, I cannot ! "
" But," pleaded my mother, " we are very poor. By
close economy we can live here where we own the little
home your father left us; elsewhere we would starve.
God has blessed us with health; for this be thankful, we
cannot ask him for wealth." Tears streaked their way
down my cheeks, but under the soothing tones of my
mother's voice the gush of grief had given place to a
mood of seriousness.
At this point in our conference a knock interrupted
2IO
old Jew Mose and Sammy Drew
the scene, and when I opened the door Mose the Jew
entered. His smiling face gleamed in the lamplight, and
by invitation he seated himself at my side.
Mose was dressed in his holiday garments, and, per-
haps in order to suppress our curiosity on that account,
he told us that he was returning from the city. Once
a year, every September, Felix Moses, in a new suit of
clothes, met in religious ceremony with his own people
in Cincinnati. But, so far as we knew, until the next
fall he did not again seek the house wherein his kinsmen
worshipped. On his return from the present trip he
had sought our home ; and so unusual was it for him to
visit a townsman except on business, as to cause both
my mother and myself secretly to wonder. Divining
our thoughts, Mose soon enlightened and likewise
amazed us.
"To-morrow night I shall start to join the rebel
army."
" You, Mose ? " exclaimed mother.
" Yes. I have sold my horse and wagon, collected
my accounts, bought a young horse and outfit, and six
of us start South to-morrow night."
" You are neither young nor a fighting man and your
people do not love war."
" I am of the tribe of Judah. My people love peace,
but have taken part in war since the beginning of his-
tory. Our wealth has contributed to the maintenance
of the cause of all nations and our bones have whitened
the battlefields of every land, ancient and modern."
" But this war is not of the Jews' making."
" We are at home in all countries, and the Jew makes
sacrifices for the right as he sees it."
" Your people are mostly in favour of the North ; do
any of your Jew friends champion the South ? "
211
Stringtown on the Pike
" Old Man Nordman has a son in each army ; who
can say which son is in the wrong ? "
Evidently the man had considered the subject from
every side. He rose to depart — held out his hand —
and as he did so, took from his coat pocket a package
and handed it to mother, saying — " Your child has no
longer a father," he said sadly. " I know that you built
great hopes on the money that was to come to you by
the will of the Corn Bug. But that is lost. I have no
use for money now, I may never return, and if I do I
can begin anew. Use the money you find in this pack-
age to educate the boy."
Some spot in every life is sacred ; neither pen nor
tongue should touch the arcanum that lies in some of
these depths.
212
CHAPTER XXXIV
THE VILLAGE CIRCLE OF STRINGTOWN
A CLEAR sunset ushered in the next night, the
evening that brought the first frost of the season.
Mist and cloud were brushed away by a wind from the
north, which left the air sparkling and crisp. The
voices of the green-winged singers that for six weeks had
joyously chirped in tree and shrub, and their relatives,
the katydids, that during the summer had called and
answered each other, were hushed. No rustling leaves,
no cry of insect, no motion of bush, broke the still,
crisp night. Great was this contrast to the shrieking
blast, the banging shutters, the creaking sign and the
beating sleet, that rang their changes when our village
circle had met, ten months ago.
The quiet air, penetratingly cold, spoke of frost and
foretold that slivers of ice before morning would surely
form in the shallows of exposed hoof-tracks. For weeks
the swallows had been flocking in the meadows. Their
noisv chirps but the day before had sounded in the ear
of the passer-by. Gathering from their nesting places,
these glossy songsters during the summer had collected
into great flocks. The tops of the dead trees about the
meadow pond of Mr. Nordman were black with their
glittering forms. Never before had they seemed so
noisy. But when next morning broke, the upstretched
branches were bare, the field was deserted. Buried in
the cloud depths above and out of sight of man, they
213
Stringtown on the Pike
had risen in the night and turned their eyes to the
South.
As a rule, few stars could be seen of a summer even-
ing through the heavy-laden atmosphere. But now,
responsive to the crisp, transparent night, numbers of
tiny points sprang into view and twinkled. The star-
built sickle, which during the early part of June crossed
the meridian in the evening's twilight, now had sunk
below the western horizon. The Great Dipper, which
during the early summer evenings had balanced itself over
the meridian's line, the bowl west, the handle east of it
now, low in the north, hung just above the earth's edge
The milkmaid's path, which in June had started from
the northwest, marked its way close to the eastern hori-
zon, to slope down and disappear in the southeast, was
now a broad, white band overhead, extending across the
sky from the northeast to the southwest.
One by one the members of the Circle " dropped "
into place that frosty Saturday evening, until, when the
lamps were lighted, most of the inverted nail kegs upon
which the villagers seated themselves were occupied.
The clerk, Mr. Wagner, sat in his mutilated chair;
Judge Elford balanced himself upon his one-legged seat,
and Professor Drake, book in hand, sat on his bookcase
high stool, beneath the lamp.
But in the shadow cast by the stove-pipe, Cupe
slipped quietly early in the evening, and stood in the
corner. Whenever the door opened he was screened
from sight, but his willing hand closed the door after
each newcomer. Down the aisle, before the counter,
stretched the only vacant strip of floor unbroken by
stool, keg or other obstacle. It was the reserved spot
where stood the grocer's patrons while their packages
of tea, sugar and other trifling purchases were being
214
The Village Circle of Stringtown
wrapped. Recognising the business right of the pro-
prietor, the circle invariably reserved this space for his
convenience.
Suddenly when there was a pause in the talk the
quiet, frost-breeding air brought to our ear the click of
metal striking against stone. At the sound all listened
with raised heads. Cupe softly turned the knob and
opened the door slightly, lapping his ear over the edge.
They had not long to wait, for soon the clatter of many
hoofs beating the stones of Stringtown pike came
through the still night air. Only one word was
spoken : " Yankees.^' The grocer stepped to where I
sat, grabbed the armoured saddle, dragged it from be-
neath me and thrust it hastily into an empty salt barrel,
which he inverted and rolled beside Cupe, after which
act he quickly lifted me to a seat on its head. A pile of
bundled garments, blankets, canteens, belts and other
accoutrements on an exposed shelf was hastily seized in
willing hands and stuffed as unceremoniously into the
empty nail-keg seats from which each man arose.
Quickly all the contraband articles were concealed and
the kegs again inverted. Every man now sat silent in
his accustomed place. Only the old negro had been
deliberate ; it was he who deftly concealed a contribution
from our Stringtown girls, a package that contained a
satin banner stitched by loving fingers. White ground-
work in one corner of that folded flag was starred in
blue and the banner was embellished with three broad
stripes, a white one bounded by two red bars. The
emblem had previously been wrapped in rubber cloth,
and Cupe thrust it carefully into a capacious pocket.
As the grocer handed the flag to the negro he remarked :
" The Yankees '11 not sarch a nigger."
In a few moments the door opened, and the Red-Head
215
Stringtown on the Pike
Boy of Nordman entered. He shot quick glances about
the room, then, as unconcerned as the other occupants
seemed to be, stepped to the counter, asked the grocer
for five cents' worth of raisins, making a face as he did
so at me as I sat on the barrel, and I viciously mouthed
back again. Then there came the sound of rattling
scabbards, the clash of metal against metal, the door
opened and a man entered dressed in blue. He was an
officer, and glanced searchingly around until his gaze
lighted on the Red-Headed Boy, who seemed to stare
indifferently back at him, exactly as did every other
member of the circle.
" Evening, friends," said the soldier, " a cool night this."
" Rather fresh," replied the grocer.
" How far is it to Nordman's pond ? "
" 'Bout half a mile." Then, pointing to the boy, the
grocer added, "This boy lives with Mr. Nordman."
The cavalryman's quick eye surveyed the room again ;
his scrutiny was directed successively from face to face ;
he turned his attention again to the grocer, who, seem-
ingly oblivious to the inquisition, stood with folded
arms.
" Come on, sonny," the soldier said, addressing the
boy, "show me the way to Nordman's pond; we camp
there to-night. Good-night, friends."
The boy followed him, but as he passed old Cupe, the
negro leaned over, and putting his rubber lips close to
the suspect's ear whispered : " Yo' bettah look out, yo'
sly debbil, yo' am spinnin' de fre'ds ob yoah own
shroud."
Another rattle of sabres and squeaking of leather, a
word of command, a tramp of horses' feet, and in a few
moments the circle of men within the room again sat in
silence.
2l6
CHAPTER XXXV
THE LOVE SONG OF THE REBEL SOLDIER
STEPPING from his place behind the door, Cupe,
evidently anxious to leave the room, addressed Mr.
Wagner : " An' may de nigger ax, did yo' read dem
papahs ? "
"Yes;" said the clerk glancing at the judge.
" An' hab yo' nuffin t' say ? "
Again the clerk glanced at the judge, and slowly
drawled out, "Not now," emphasising the word
" now."
"An' yo' may wait too long ef yo' doan look out,"
mumbled the negro.
Turning to Judge Elford, the slave asked : " An' hab
yo' anyt'ing t' say t' Cupe, Ma'se Jedge ? "
"No," said the judge, sharply, "not now ; " and he,
too, emphasised the word " now." But he did not glance
at the clerk.
Bowing, the negro seemed inclined to ask another
question, but instead stepped back to his place, for at
that instant there came a second interruption from with-
out. Sounds of muffled footsteps in the dust before the
grocery, the gentle squeak of saddle leather, — just suffi-
cient to indicate to ears familiar with the sound that
mounted men were cautiously slipping from their horses,
— and then whispering voices were heard. A face was
now pressed against the glass panel in the door, and a
pair of eyes gazed into the room. More than one hand
217
Stringtown on the Pike
sought a side pocket ; the grocer stepped quickly to the
rear of the store, turned, and in the gloom stood facing
the door, with a bright object thrown across his arm, —
an object that glittered in the faint light.
" Hist ! " he whispered ; " ef et es a raid, we have
work to do." And then a double tap or rap was struck
upon the door, a rap that seemed to be understood by
all, for the grocer dropped his gun and stepped back into
the light, and each hand was withdrawn from the pocket
that had so suddenly encased it. The door opened, and
six Stringtown County men, two of whom were mem-
bers of the village circle, came into the room. It was
evident that this body of men was expected by some, if
not all, of the members present, but the raid (for we
knew full well the unconcern of the blue-coated soldier
was assumed) had aroused suspicion. Even Cupe, as
shown by his secreting the Confederate banner, was one
of the initiated, and even he accepted that the blue-
coated soldiers had slipped back, for I heard him mutter,
" Damn dat Red-Head cuss ! "
The nail kegs were suddenly inverted, their concealed
contents were removed and parcelled out to respective
owners. The coats of the intruders were thrown open
and the new leather belts were hastily buckled around
each waist. The grocer produced seven pistols from an
unseen receptacle, one for each of the six-belted holsters,
the seventh being laid upon the counter. A blanket roll
was then taken by each man, who quickly stepped to his
horse and strapped the roll to the back of the Mexican
saddle, and then returned to the room ; where, amid a
series of hand-shakings, in which all joined, the booted
and newly armed men prepared to make their last fare-
well to Stringtown friends. But the saddle on which I
sat, still hidden in the inverted salt barrel, lacked an
2l8
Love Song ot the Rebel Soldier
owner, and one pistol and belt lay unclaimed on the
counter. A whispered consultation was held by the
adventurous volunteers, who were preparing for a peril-
ous attempt to slip through the Federal lines into the
South to join the Confederate forces. Evidently these
men expected a companion who had failed to appear, and
for whom they were restlessly waiting.
" Comrades, we may never meet around the old stove
again ; let us have a last song before we start," said one
of them. " Let it be to our sweethearts. Captain."
" Oh, yes, I am a Southern girl, and glory in the name,
I boast of it with greater pride than glittering wealth and fame 5
I envy not the Northern girl her robes of beauty rare,
Though diamonds deck her snowy neck and pearls bespread her
hair.
" Huzza! huzza! for the Southern girl so fair.
Huzza! for the homespun dress the Southern ladies wear.
" Our homespun dress is plain, I know, our hats palmetto too,
But then this shows what Southern girls for Southern rights can
do.
We send our sweethearts to the war, but, dear girls, never mind.
The Southern soldier Ml not forget the girl he left behind.
" Huzza! huzza! for the Southern girl so fair.
Huzza! for the homespun dress the Southern ladies wear."
When the song was ended, it was thought unwise to
linger, but just as they were about to depart, the man
they were expecting entered. The new-comer was
Mose the Jew. His face was wreathed in smiles, those
eternal smiles, and a familiar chuckle he was wont to
make when pleased greeted the assembly as he lifted the
saddle and carried it from the room. Returning, he pro-
ceeded to belt and arm himself as the others had done.
"The flag — the flag," said the club-footed cavalier,
219
Stringtown on the Pike
*'we must not forget the flag." Old Cupe stepped for-
ward — not to the man who spoke, but to Mose, to
whom he handed the rubber-bound parcel. Then he
turned and addressed the leader : " Bettah yo' go out de
Mt. Carmel pike an' cut 'roun' de county co'ht-house
an' git back ter de Stringtown pike by de souf road.
Steer cl'ar ob de pond ob Ma'se Nordman."
"Yes," interrupted another, "•a squad of Union cav-
alry is camping in the pond-field."
" We know it," was the reply ; " Mose followed them
beyond the Campbellite Church and has just returned."
In single file they left the room, Mose bringing up the
rear, to my amazement accompanied by my chum, the
grocer's boy, who as he passed handed me the key to his
box of papers. " Take them," said he, " take them
home with you, Sammy, pictures, short-hand notes, all;
if I get back from the war, I'll want them, if not — "
He faltered, tears sprang to his eyes, he held out his
hand, which I grasped. Then he turned and ran from
the room. The occupants of the circle crowded close
upon the retreating forms, and soon the storeroom was
deserted. The squad of rebels unhitched their horses,
quietly mounted them — the grocer's boy springing up
behind the Jew — and then they turned toward the
South. Without another word this group of resolute
men and the chum of my childhood, whom I never saw
again, started in a brisk trot up the Stringtown pike.
And I recall now that after the sound of the horses'
hoofs died away in the distance, we who lingered outside
the grocery caught the strain of a song from afar that
seemed almost like an echo. The musical voice of the
rebel captain came floating to our ears, bearing a couplet
of the ode he had sung in praise of the Southern girl, the
verse in which occurred the lines : —
220
Love Song of the Rebel Soldier
" We send our sweethearts to the war, but, dear girls, never mind,
The Southern soldier '11 not forget the girl he left behind."
But the love song soon died away, as did the tramp of
the horses. The bareheaded watchers stood a moment
in the night air, then re-entered the grocery, the broken
circle formed again, and each man sat silent, gazing at
the stove.
Then occurred a curious thing. The Red-Headed Boy
of Nordman had returned, and, unperceived by me at
least, had entered the room with the others, but appar-
ently without an object, and, after glancing about, he
quietly started out again. As he passed, Cupe, reaching
down from his station near the door, caught him by the
ear and held him fast, whispering a few words as he did
so.
Turning to those about the stove, the negro asked
Judge Elford, " An' hab yo' nuffin fo' suah t' say t'
Cupe ? "
«No."
'• De signs am fulfillin' demsel's monstrous fas'," the
negro mumbled. " Yo' won't fergit t' count de money
in de desk an' read de papahs befo' de Co'ht, of yocasion
'quires ? "
" I have promised to do so," replied the judge.
Turning to Mr. Wagner, Cupe asked, " An' did yo'
read de writin' I lef ' yo' las' night ? "
" I did."
" An' caint yo' say nuffin t' Cupe ? "
" Not now, Cupid."
With a troubled look, old Cupe, leading the Red-
Headed Boy by the ear, left the grocery and passed out
into the starlicrht.
221
CHAPTER XXXVI
" DINAH, CUPE MUS' LEAVE DE CABIN "
THE time consumed by Cupe and his prisoner in
reaching the cabin was not sufficient to permit
them to leisurely walk that distance. They must have
run part of the way, for in a very short time the cabin
door was thrown open, and holding the boy firmly the
negro entered the room. " Brung me de (ox trap an'
chain, an' de chicken-house lock, an' a strap, de debbil
am t' pay."
Dinah obeyed ; Cupe's voice evinced his suppressed
excitement. Forcing the captive into a rustic chair, they
bound him securely ; a long strap was wrapped about
both the chair and the body of the boy, and locked by
a padlock to two staples that for some other purpose had
been previously driven into a log behind him. Thus
the boy sat with his back against the wall ; his arms
were strapped tightly to his side, but his head, forearms
and hands were free. Cupe drew the table close to his
bound victim's knees ; the boy's hands could easily move
about its surface. A large pan of water containing a
dipper was placed on the table, a liberal supply of pro-
visions was thrust alongside it, and after this had been
done Cupe said : " Yo' am likely t' want fo' comp'ny
befo' long, yo' East Kaintuck scrub, an' yo' may git
hungry befo' de comp'ny calls. Dah am grub t' eat an'
watah t' drink, an' while yo' wait, yo' kin tell yoah story
t' yoah ma'se, de debbil." The boy's eyes gleamed
with hatred, but he made no reply.
222
'^Cupe mus' leave de Cabin"
Then the negro turned to Dinah. For once his
method of addressing her exhibited less of the ruler and
more of the companion. The affection that had ever
been a part of his true self, but which was generally
masked by grufFness, now crept to the surface. He took
her hand, led her to the fireplace and seated her in a low
corn-shuck chair on one side of the hearth, himself tak-
ing a similar chair opposite.
" Honey," he said slowly and tenderly, " de min' ob
yoah husban' am runnin' back t'-night — back t' de
days ob de long ago. Dah hab be'n joy an' sorrah fo'
de heaht, wa'm an' cole fo' de flesh, Dinah, 'twixt de
night yo' leP yoah home on Grassy Creek an' now.
Min' yo' de ole time, Dinah — min' yo' de time when
Cupe came ridin' dat fust Satuhday night t' de cabin
doah ? "
" I min' de time, Cupe."
" Yo' wah a beauty ob a wench, Dinah, yo' wah de
flowah ob de Ian'. An' well do Cupe min' dat night,
too. Befo' he staht fo' de trip dat Satuhday ahftahnoon
he Stan' befo' ole ma'se an' say : ' Dah am a monstrous
pritty gearl on Grassy Creek.' An' ole ma'se say : ' De
fa'dah away de bettah ; et am well she am no closah
dan Grassy Creek.' An' Cupe ax may he borrah ole
Prince ? an' ma'se cuss an' damn de wench on Grassy
Creek, but Cupe doan say nuffin ; an' when ma'se stop
Cupe jes Stan' still, fo' while de ma'se cuss an' sw'ar' he
doan say de word no.
" ' What fo' yo' stan'n' dah fo' ? ' ax ma'se.
" ' Fo' de loan ob ole Prince t' ride t' Grassy Creek.'
" ' Yo' kin go,' say ma'se, ' but min' yo' am back by
foah o'clock Monday mahn'n.' An' es Cupe staht t'
t'ank him fo' de kindness, ma'se say : ' Shet yoah mouf.*
An' den Cupe ax : ' What 'bout de pat-a-role ? '
223
Stringtown on the Pike
" An' ma'se, he take a papah out ob his pocket an*
write de pass, an' say : ' De pat-a-role '11 gib yoah brack
back a wa'min' ef yo' ain't home by foah o'clock
Monday mahn'n.'
"Min' yo', Dinah, dat Satuhday night ? "
Dinah bowed her head.
" An' min' yo' how supple Cupe wah den, Dinah ? "
Again she nodded.
" Yoah cabin wah down in de hollah jes back ob
yoah ma'se's house, Dinah, an' es Cupe ride up t' de
doah yo' step t' de sill — et wah a monstrous good sign,
Dinah. Yo' wah stan'n' in de yard befo' de doah, an'
Cupe pull up de ho'se an' look down an' say a sof
word, an' yo' smile up in his face. An' Cupe jes git
down an' stick de switch he hole in his han' in de sof
earf keerless like — a fool nigger who am in lub ain't
got no sense — an' he take de bag ob cohn off Prince an'
Stan' et 'side yoah doah an' lead Prince t' de stable.
" Min' yo' dat bag ob cohn, Dinah ' "
A tear ran down the cheek of the old woman.
" Dah wah a bluebird on a pole in front ob yoah
cabin, an' a lady bluebird sat in de little doah befo' de
nes'. Jes den de man bird wid de bright, blue coat an'
red breast come from out de air an' light by her side ;
an' Cupe pint t' de cooin' birds an' say : ' Dat sign am
good.' An' yo' make no ansah, but take Cupe by de
han' an' lead him into de cabin, an' he sit on one side ob
de harf, an' yo' sit on de uddah. But we two niggers
hab no need fo' fiah dat night, Dinah.
" And when de niggers see dat bag ob cohn stan'n' by
yoah doah, Dinah, dey pass de word 'roun' ; dah
wah n't no buck nigger boddah yo' ag'in. Eb'ry
Satuhday night, when Cupe ax fo' de pat-a-role pass, ole
ma'se growl, an' den he write Cupe de pass, an' at las'
dah wah a wed'n'. 224
u
Cupe mus' leave de Cabin '*
" Min' yo' de weepin' willah befo' de doah ? Et wah
de bad sign ob yoah life, Dinah, an' Cupe wah de cause.
De switch he stick in de groun' wah a twig ob weepin'
willah. De nex' time he call on yo' de buds had
broken ; de nex' time de lebes had sprouted ; de weepin'
willah-tree wah planted by de han' ob Cupe, an' de
trouble et brought wah befo' yoah doah, Dinah, an'
settlin' obah yoah cabin. Cupe could n't say nuffin, but
he know de ebil spell wah on ; dah am no way t' change
dat awful willah-tree sign. Et runs fo' fifty yeah,
Dinah, An' when de fust chile come t' smile on us, de
pure little blos'm widout any tech ob white — eben de
sole ob de feet wah not white — yo' wah so happy,
Dinah, an' proud ob de pure nigger blood in ets brack
cheek. Den Cupe slip out an' stan' by dat willah slip
an* pray t' all de gods fo' de sign t' change. But et wah
no use, Dinah ; de little blos'm grew big 'nuff t' creep t'
de harf, an' den et close ets eyes an' pass away."
Dinah sat silent, tear after tear rolling down her cheek.
" An' 'nuddah chile come, an' grow up t' set in de
doah, but de shaddah ob de willah fall an' rubs ets life
out. Foah blos'ms what come t' us on Grassy Creek
wah blighted by dat ebil willah-tree shaddah ; dah am
foah grabes 'bout es long es an ax handle, side by side,
in de ole Grassy Creek grabeyard."
Dinah rocked back and forth, sighing and moaning.
"An' den Cupe beg ole ma'se t' buy yo', Dinah, an'
brung yo' home, an' ma'se say yo' wah a comely nigger,
an' Grassy Creek wah too far fo' Cupe t' ride ebr'y
Satuhday ebenin', an' he buy yo' fo' twelve hund'd
dollahs an' build de cabin fo' yoah nes'. But et wah n't
no use, de ehil sign go on.
" Min' yo' de night las' week when Cupe wah gone
from sundown till mahn'n ? "
15 225
Stringtown on the Pike
" Yes."
" Dinah, he slip back t' de ole cabin. Dah dat deb-
bilish ole tree stan', ets limbs wavin' in de night air.
Cupe step t' its side an' cuss et in de moonlight. De
long fingahs move in de wind an' rub on de head ob de
nigger, but Cupe had swo' by de chillun what am gone
t' kill dat tree when de fifty yeah had passed, an' et wah
fifty yeah when de sugah watah run las' spring. An' he
took his ax an' chop es nebbah he chopped befo'. De
chips fly like lebes in wintah, an' de ole tree tuhn t' one
side an' fall bump on de groun'. Den Cupe scattah
salt on ets stump an' put his foot on de ole debbil's
back an' cuss de hoodoo tree."
Dinah chuckled.
" Dah hab be'n thirteen blos'ms t' cheer yo', Dinah,
sense dat switch wah sprouted, an' eb'ry chile es brack
es Cupe. Yo' hain't had no shame t' bury, Dinah."
Cupe pointed to the hearthstone between them.
" Dinah," he asked, "min' yo' de fac' dat nebbah hab
two chillun sat side by side on de great stone ? An'
now yoah head am white, yoah face am wrinkled, yoah
han' am skinny an' yoah toof am yallah. Dah am
thirteen little grabes — foah on Grassy Creek an' nine
b'hin' dis cabin. Et am a hoodoo numbah, but now de
ebil spell am obah. De willah-tree am dead. De
missus an' all de ole fren's am sleepin' quiet ; de wicked
ole ma'se am walkin' — he only am movin' ob all de
fo'ks yo' knew when yoah cheek wah plump, yoah toof
white an' yoah skin shiny."
Dinah was sobbing softly, and Cupe fell upon his
knees on the spot upon the hearth to which he had
pointed, and took her hands between his rough palms,
lovingly stroking the bony fingers.
" Dinah, t'-night Cupe mus' lebe de ole cabin. De
226
ii
Cupe mus' leave de Cabin''
signs am all fulfilled, de fifty yeah ob pain am passed,
an' we two niggers am free from de willah-tree spell.
De Susie chile only am lef t' pint back t' de sacred
promise, an' t' sabe dat chile, an' lib up t' de promise we
made de young ma'se, Cupe mus' lebe de ole home."
He took from his tattered pocketbook a paper that,
although he could not read, he evidently fully compre-
hended, and held it out to his wife : " Yo' may stay in
de cabin, Dinah, ef yo' wants t' stay, an' when de
mahn'n comes ef yo '11 take dis papah t' Ma'se Elford,
yo '11 git yoah freedom an' kin go back t' yoah ole home
on Grassy Creek, de cabin wah' yo' stood in de doah
when Cupe ride up fifty yeah ago."
^' An' ef I doan take de papah ? "
" Pack yoah duds an' bid farewell t' de Ian' ob yoah
birf, fo' when t'-morrah sun rise Cupe an' Susie '11 be
down in de Licking Hills wid dere faces tu'ned to'ard de
cole Canerdy Ian'."
Again he held out the paper. " Dinah, will yo' go
back t' de ole cabin on Grassy Creek, er will yo' walk
into de night wid Cupe ? "
The woman pushed back the paper and repeated the
vow made twice before : " De Canerdy Ian' am cole
an' de grabes ob de missus an' de chillun am deah, in
ole Kaintuck, but fo' de good ob de Susie chile an' de
lub ob ole Cupe, Dinah '11 close de cabin doah ferebah."
22/
CHAPTER XXXVII
RED-HEAD, CAPTIVE
IT was needless for them to consult concerning the
next step. Their conversation had often been of
such a nature as to prepare both for the course they
must pursue in case it became desirable to "run away."
Rapidly they moved about the' rough room, selecting the
various articles of clothing or the utensils that might
prove of use in their wanderings. They recognised that
little could be carried, and consequently few household
articles aside from the provisions were disturbed. The
only exception to this exacting rule proved to be the
garments of Susie, for these were all neatly packed by
Dinah in an oilcloth sack, the mouth of which was
closed with a draw-string.
The captive boy sat silent, closely watching the busy
pair, who, upon the contrary, seemed to give him no
attention. In a short time the hasty preparation was
made, the slaves were ready to start for Canada, one
with a basket, the other with a bag. Then Cupe turned
to the boy, and standing before him said abruptly :
" Yo' am a debbil from the mount'ns, yo' Red-Head
cuss, an' hab no place 'mong civil fo'k. Why doan yo'
go back t' yoah pap ? "
" Can't, yo' old nigger," the boy answered insolently,
" Wha' am yoah pap ? "
« Dead."
228
Red-Head, Captive
" Yo' bettah go back t' yoah ma when yo' git loose."
« Dead."
The negro's heart gave signs of relenting. In a more
kindly voice he said :
" Hab yo' no bruddahs ? "
" One."
"Yo' bettah go t' yoah bruddah."
The boy shook his head.
" Am dah a reason why yo' doan go ? "
"Yes."
" What am de cause ? "
"Dead."
The old man started unconsciously; then he lowered
his voice :
" An' hab yo' no sisterin, chile ? "
" Yes."
*' How many sisterin ? "
"One."
" Caint yo' go an' lib wid de gearl ? "
Tears moistened the eyes of the captive boy ; he
shook his head.
" Ef Cupe '11 unlock de chain an' open de doah will
yo' go back t' de mount'n gearl ? "
Again the boy shook his head.
" Tole us de reason, chile;" and automatically the
slave arranged the provisions on the table more con-
veniently, " Tole us de reason, chile."
" Dead."
The man stood a moment in silence.
" An' hab yo' no uddah kin but Ma'se Nordman ? "
" No other."
*' Et am a shame, et am a sin an' a shame."
" What ? "
" Dat yo' hab come t' Stringtown. But yo' caint help
229
Stringtown on the Pike
et, yo' am mixed in de sign ; " then, suddenly, with the
word " sign " the negro changed his manner of expres-
sion. That word brought back to his mind the fact that
the boy was destined to work evil according to the
" sign." The superstitious old man forgot the former
softened voice ; no touch of pity was left in his heart ;
his tone grew harsh again : " Yo' cub ob Satin, an' et
wah good fo' de libin' an' no hahm t' de dead ef yo' wah
dead too ; " and he turned away.
A vicious look came over the boy's face, he clenched
his hand, and tried to shake his fist at the speaker.
Neither spoke again. Susie, ready dressed — for the
child had not been disrobed that night — was taken from
her bed, wrapped in a woollen shawl, and, still asleep,
was gently clasped in the arms of the man ; her head
rested on one shoulder, while the bag of clothing de-
pended by a strap from the other.
Dinah, bearing the provisions, as if determined to
make good her thrice-told promise, opened the cabin
door, stepped outside, and stood ready to close it. But
just then Cupe, who, too, had reached the door, cried,
" Come back, Dinah ; dah am a fren' t' go wid us,
an' a fren' t' say good-bye."
He laid the sleeping child on the bed, and stepping to
the hearth, raised one of the flat stones, taking from be-
neath it three large kidney-shaped beans, each at least
an inch in diameter. These he put into his pocket,
addressing them as he did so : —
" Ef de time ebah comes t' act, yo' kin do yoah work ;
but yoah mouf hab be'n long shet sense yo' grew in de
hot Guinee Ian'. An' now fo' de las' word from de
oldest fren' ob all."
He took his fiddle from the peg and raised it to his
shoulder; his eyes closed, his chin dropped until it
230
Red-Head, Captive
touched the instrument, and then his expert fingers
touched the strings.
Plaintive was the melody wafted into the air as the
unlettered musician drew the bow. From his warm
heart came the pathetic touch that vibrated the strings
until they fairly spoke. He played only one air : —
" We'll hunt no moah fo' de 'possum an' de coon.
On de meddah, de hill, an' de shoah.
We '11 sing no moah by de glimmah ob de moon,
On de bench by de ole cabin doah.
" De days go by like de shaddah on de heaht,
Wid sorrah wha' all wah so bright,
De time am come when de darkeys hab t' part,
Den my ole Kentucky home, good-night."
When the last note died away, the child was taken up
again, and at last the door closed behind the fugitives.
But now Dinah stopped. She lingered with bowed
head before the home she had deserted. Tears coursed
down her wrinkled cheeks, while Cupe, equally affected,
but too stoical to exhibit his emotion, stood by her side.
The old woman raised her hand and, pointing to the
door, her finger nearly touching it, huskily asked :
" Min' yo' de sign ob defF, Cupe ? "
"What sign ob defF? Dah am many signs ob
deff?"
" De Bloody Hollah sign. Doan yo' see et am come
true ? De Red-Head Boy am all alone in de cabin^ he am
sittin'' in de cheer ob Susie."
231
CHAPTER XXXVIII
RETURN OF THE REFUGEES
IN the autumn of 1868, several years later, two negroes
accompanied by a girl about eight years of age,
passed down the west side of Vine Street, Cincinnati.
They approached the Ohio River bank, and then
stood gazing intently on the Kentucky shore. Not a
word had been spoken since they first caught sight of the
opposite bank of the river. Their quaint attire and
strange bearing led a party of impudent wharf children
to collect about them. Neither of the negroes who
gazed so intently across the river noticed the group of
urchins that was rapidly increasing in number, but the
child, withdrawing her gaze from other objects, turned
her eyes first at one and then at another of the encircling
party, who insolently stared back again. At this point
the carpet-bag in the hand of the old man was loosened ;
it fell upon the bouldered street and rolled upon its side,
resting partly on his large feet. But he did not seem to
feel its weight. Raising his arm, he pointed to the green
Kentucky hills in the distance, but did not speak. A
tear rolled down the cheek of his companion, the old
woman, for it needed but this action to cause her to give
way to suppressed emotion. She, too, dropped her
satchel and clasped her hands, extending them toward
the hills that rose beyond the city. A howl of derision
now came from the throats of the circle of children, and
a mischievous boy suddenly jumped forward and grabbed
232
Return of the Refugees
the fallen sack. The girl snatched her hands from the
grasp of the negroes, sprang upon the bent form of the
rude meddler, threw her wiry arms about his neck, and,
with a display of unexpected strength, threw him to the
ground. The incident broke the reverie of the negroes,
who, moving with greater suppleness than seemed pos-
sible to persons so aged, resumed possession of both the
girl and the bag and retraced their steps to Second Street,
turned to the right, and sought the entrance to the great
new suspension bridge.
An hour afterward they slowly passed along Lexington
Pike in the outskirts of Covington, and subsequently
tramped up the long two-and-a-half-mile hill beyond the
city limits. They were very tired, and frequently
stopped to rest on the grassy roadside, when the child
would bury her head in the lap of the negress, and that
she closed her eyes in sleep was evident from the effort
it required to arouse her. At last the party passed over
the crest of the hill where stood the toll-gate, and then
they moved down into the evening shadows that now
closed rapidly about the winding road, which soon sank
into a ravine, and then crept deeper still in order to de-
scend by easy grade into the valley that must soon be
crossed. To the left, one behind the other, on the slope
of the opposite hill, could be seen ridges of earth that
even in the shadows were yellow. Behind these stretched
trenches deep enough to shelter armed men ; once they
were rifle-pits, and in 1862 commanded the pike; they
overlooked it in 1868, and, nearly obliterated by time,
they border it now. But unless the eight graves dug in
1862 near the crest of that hill are yet inviolate, no sol-
dier. Blue or Grey, holds these silent redoubts. On be-
yond the trenches into deeper shadows plodded the three
wanderers ; the road curves, the rifle-pits and the dark
233
Stringtown on the Pike
ravine are now in the rear. Looming high on the hill
to the right appears at this point old Fort Mitchell, as
silent as are the abandoned yellow trenches ironically
standing guard over the peaceful valley. But the aban-
doned fort disappears too behind the wearied travellers,
who now pass into the broad valley, still treading the
pike. Thickets on either side spring from stumps
where, in order to give free range for cannon and mus-
ket, all the trees were felled in 1862. But the war is
over. A flock of sheep is resting where once stood a
battery of brass field-guns. Fences burned for camp-
fires have been replaced by new ones ; no scattered
cracker boxes, no broken army wagons, no limping
mules, no mark of tent or of camp litter remain in the
grassy fields bordering the road where a few years pre-
viously tens of thousands of armed men had bivouacked.
Gone are all these, — the glittering guns, the caissons
and cannon, the army, and the tramping sentry.
The travellers moved more slowly, the white pike
turned grey in the deepening twilight, the grass-grown
fields changed to black, and the foliage beside the pike
lost its colour. Dusk turned to night. From a pond
across the valley came the cries of frogs, some deep and
guttural, others shrill, and yet others, unlike either croak
or chirp, appeared to sound in harmony with the com-
plaint uttered by the sombre rain-crow. From a clump
of bushes nearby a rabbit leaped into the dust of the
pike. The man dropped his sack, grasped the arm of the
woman tremblingly, and the human figures stood gazing
at the tiny form at their feet. The wondering rabbit
stayed but a moment, then swiftly sped across the road,
and disappeared in the weeds.
Without a word, the pilgrims turned and retraced their
steps, dragging their coarse shoes wearily in the deep
234
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3:
Return of the Refugees
dust of the pike back to the silent fort that could no
longer be seen in the darkness. As they entered the
shades of the gloomy hollow the cry of a hoot-owl broke
upon the air; coming from a shrub within the solitary
fort, now on their left ; then, from a dead beech-tree
that rises above the graves of the soldiers behind the
rifle-pits on the crest of the other hill, sounded the
answering cry of the old owl's mate. The woman
touched the man on his left shoulder, and he turned to
catch sight of the tiny crescent moon shining through
the limbs of a dead shrub. Again the old woman
touched his shoulder, his left shoulder, and pointed to
the brush-screened new moon.
That night the travellers rested with a negro friend
who lived in Rat Row, and the next morning turned
their footsteps down the Ohio River. They tramped
along the shore by easy journey, stopping often to rest,
never at a loss for lodging places, until they reached a
point opposite Carrollton, where they called the ferry-
man and crossed the river. From this point they struck
back into Kentucky, following the road that parallels
the beautiful and picturesque Kentucky River until
Carrollton was left far in the rear. Then they struck
into the hills and moved in the direction of Stringtown.
" Et wah a long way ' roun '," said Cupe, " but de
rabbet knows ets bisness. De longes' way 'roun' am
de safes' way home ef de rabbet cross de paiF."
235
CHAPTER XXXIX
cupe's plea for Susie's name
ON a knoll back from the road stood a colonial
mansion, an hour's ride from Stringtown. Before
it stretched a woodland pasture that gently sloped from
the house. Great sugar-maple and venerable walnut
trees shaded this spacious lawn, which was artistically
ornamented by clumps of yucca and groups of cedar,
pine, and juniper trees. A picturesque drive led from
the door of the mansion, down the slopes, through the
grounds to the front gate. A dense osage orange hedge
bordered the opposite side of the road.
In an easy-chair on the porch of the house sat a grey-
haired man ; a party of merry, young people was pre-
paring to enter a large carryall that stood on the drive
before the porch. Two of the pleasure seekers — young
girls — kissed the man and said : " Farewell until morn-
ing, papa ! " Then the party drove down the avenue
on to the public road and disappeared from sight. The
man on the porch in the shade of the trees leaned back
in his easy-chair and watched the sun go down ; gently
rocking, he pufFed a cigar, the curling smoke of which
could be seen by one with good eves from the distant
Iredge bordering the street and extending opposite the
mouth of the avenue that led to the house. Three
faces, two of them black, the other white, peered through
the hedge commanding a full view of the solitary figure
on the porch. Twilight deepened, and from the log
236
Cupe's Plea for Susie's Name
cabins behind the house came another vehicle, a spring
wagon, laden with negroes dressed in gay-coloured, holi-
day attire. The three figures drew back at their ap-
proach and concealed themselves behind the thick part
of the hedge.
The wagon passed down the avenue, turned out into
the road and disappeared in the direction of Stringtown.
The man on the porch, the sole occupant of the
deserted house, unconscious of their watchful eyes, pufFed
his cigar.
Evening drew near ; the dew and the shadows of
night fell together. The man threw the stump of his
cigar into the lawn, entered the house, lighted a lamp
and without drawing the curtain seated himself at a
table and began to read an historical record of Kentucky.
Thus he sat alone until deep darkness brooded over all
things without the house.
Unrest tormented him. Dropping the book and
lighting a cigar, the uneasy watcher threw his feet upon
the arm of a tall chair, dropped his head upon the back
of the rocker, faced the window and gently puffed his
cigar. With lips pursed together, he threw a thread of
white smoke into the room and dreamily gazed upon it
with half-closed eyes. The deep blue that curled up-
ward from the tip of his cigar contrasted sharply with
this vapour-mixed cloud. The circle of smoke sped to
the ceiling and shattered itself against a projecting
decoration. Another ring, moving like creeping cotton,
followed the first; trembling, weaving, seemingly un-
decided as to whether it should move up or down, the
phantom balanced itself in the air, then collapsed and
disappeared. A third followed the second ; softer,
whiter, more perfect than the others, it moved upward
more gracefully. The thin thread of blue from the tip
237
Stringtown on the Pike
of the cigar between the forefinger and thumb of the
nicotine dreamer followed this retreating circle; it thrust
itself into the centre of the vortex ring, then lapped ovei
it, and before the combination burst spread as a revolv-
ing sheath from above its upper edge.
Into the stillness and the silence passed another fairy
ring ; a feather's touch would have crushed it, an up-
starting puff of air would have been fatal. Slowly this
fifth wreath moved upward ; drawing the blue thread
from the cigar's tip into its depths, it balanced itself
exactly in the torpid air, and then, just before collapsing,
the man who faced it saw from the inner circle, where
blue and white mingled, a pair of eyes, blue eyes, spring
into existence and gaze down into his own.
The hand that held the cigar dropped, but the man
was unconscious of the movement ; his mind turned
from the picture above to a scene of other years, when a
pair of living eyes, eyes exactly like these, gazed be-
seechingly into his own. These phantom orbs from out
the burst fairy wreath had reflected a glimpse of other
days. Then his glance dropped to the night-black win-
dow ; there, set in a face of darkness quite different
from the blackness about it, hung two white eyes that
gazed in upon him who dreamed as waking men some-
times dream. The startled watcher turned back to the
sun-white wreath above ; it had vanished. He dropped
his glance to the black face in the window ; the eyes
were gone. Not a word did he utter, but grasping the
decanter by his side, turned it up and drank deeply of the
amber liquid ; then, as if to test the correctness of his
senses or to face the spell that bound him, threw his
head back, gazed intently upward, puffed at the cigar,
and a wreath softer than a cobweb and as white as snow
sprang into existence. Floating in space as only vortex
238
Cupe's Plea for Susie's Name
rings can float, enlarging, drawing from above and
below, from without and within, growing larger and
softer and purer as it expanded, this thing of beauty,
alive to the sight, but dead to the touch, expanded to
the size of a child's face ; then from out its depths a
portrait from the past sprang again into life, a child's
face, a baby face with great, beseeching eyes. Startled
as he had never been before, the man shrank, dropped
his cigar upon the carpet, and his gaze fell again to the
window ; there, close against the glass, gazing in upon
him intently, as had the wreath-face from above, peered
beseeching eyes like those he had just seen. That same
face looked upon him from out the night; brightened by
the lamplight, set in the frame of blackness, this implor-
ing face was older, sadder, yet identical with that mind
picture framed by the fairy wreath.
Springing from his place, the man threw the door
wide open ; for a time the darkness blinded him, and even
when he pierced the depths nothing was to be seen but
the streaming light that from the window marked its way
across the drive and into the clump of trees beyond.
He slammed the door, turned the key, sprang to the
window and pulled down the Venetian blind. The
slatted shade fell to its place almost with the turn of the
key, so rapidly did he move, but simultaneously with its
rustle a heavy knock sounded on the door, a knock that
made the silent house echo. Notwithstanding the expe-
riences through which he had just passed, without any
hesitation whatever the man turned the key and again
threw open the door. A flood of light streamed across
the porch, showing three figures, one a child that stood
in front of the open way. They entered without invita-
tion and the host blurted out angrily : " What the devil
do you want ? "
239
Stringtown on the Pike
" An' hab yo' fo'got de ole man, Ma'se ? "
" What ! Cupe and Dinah."
" An' Susie, Ma'se, an' Susie."
« Who is Susie ? "
" Doan yo' know de chile ? "
" No ; an' I don't care to know her. When did you
get back, Cupe ? "
" Look at de honey gearl," said the negro, ignoring
the question. " Look at de chile ag'in, Ma'se."
Something in the tone of the old negro startled the
owner of the house. He put his finger under the chin
of the child, turned her face up to the light and gazed
down into her wondering eyes. The eyes in the smoke
wreath were on him again, the face in the window was
now a face in the room. A twinge of pain that did not
escape the quick eye of Cupe passed over his counte-
nance ; memory served the man truly, and in a flash he
saw a child in the arms of a beseeching woman. And
he remembered, too, that together mother and child had
passed out into the night, out of his sight, out of his
life.
" No, Cupe, I do not know her," he said, and turned
to the negro. '■'■ Now answer my question. When did
you get back ? "
Again the negro drew the attention of the man to the
girl. " Doan yo' 'lect de muddah ob de chile ? "
"No; and I care nothing for either the child or its
mother. What brings you here to-night ? "
Glancing about the room, the negro caught sight of a
hand-mirror, left on the table by one of the young ladies.
Picking it up, he handed it to the man. " Look into de
glass, Ma'se ; see de eyes dat look back in yoah face an'
den look at de eyes ob de chile."
A flush spread over Mr. Manley's face ; he raised his
240
Cupe's Plea for Susie's Name
clenched fist, but the negro making no motion to evade
the blow, said in a low, respectful tone :
" ' Deed, Ma'se, Cupe doan mean no disrespec'.
Look at de eyes ob de chile, an' look in de glass an' den
look at de face ob de chile an' t'ink ob de woman vo'
lubbed in York State, an' who follud yo' back t' Kain-
tuck. She tramped out into de night, a lone woman,
wid yoah chile in her arms, from dis same room."
The hand of the man trembled ; he dropped the
glass and sank into a chair. The negro closed the door
and locked it, gazing constantly at the man, who for a
moment made no effort to renew the conversation.
" Ole Sukey," continued Cupe, " who buy her freedom,
saw yo' in Sah'toga wid de muddah ob de chile. She
wah bright an' pritty, an' de smile wah on her face."
Manley's anger blazed out. " Cupe Hardman, when
morning comes your back will answer for this night's
work. Out of my house, you impudent vagabonds. Back
to Canada, back with that brat, or by God I '11 — "
The negro sank upon his knees and held up his hands.
" Cupe an' Dinah raised yo', Ma'se, on de ole Hardman
fa'm. Dey lub yo' now es ef yo' wah dah own chile.
Min' yo' not de story ob yoah life ? Lis'n t' Cupe befo'
yo' dribe dis little chile 'way. Yoah mudder an' yoah.
pap once libbed in Stringtown ; dey wah poo' people,
Ma'se, an' yo' wah a wee babe. Den de sickness came
to yoah house an' den deff. Bof yoah muddah an' yoah
pap wah carried t' de grabeyard. An' den ole ma'se say :
*■ Dinah, kin yo' raise de orfin Stringtown chile ? ' an'
Dinah say : ' Es easy t' raise two chillun es one.' An'
ma'se brung yo' home nex' day, a little boy wid gieat
eyes — no uddah chile but yoah own kin hab sech
eyes — "and Cupe glanced at Susie. "An' yo' grew
up 'long wid de chile I lub so well, de boy whose mud-
i6 241
Stringtown on the Pike
dah die long 'go. But dah wah no use tryin', yo' two
boys wah cross-grained an' tough, yo' fight an' bite an'
raise de debbil, an' at las' sep'rate — yo' know why.
De fa'm wah not big nufF fo' bof ob yo'. Ef ebah yo'
had stepped foot on de ole place ahftah de las' act yo' did,
Ma'se Hardman 'ud hab killed yo' suah. But he keep
his mouf to hisse'f fo' de honah ob de fam'ly. Ma'se
Hardman gib yo' dis fa'm when yo' tuhn 'way ; de Ian'
wah rich an' yo' wah smaht ; et am a biggah fa'm now.
Yo' am a fine gem'n an' a rich man, Ma'se."
" Well, but why are you here, Cupe ? " said Mr.
Manley. " Why are you here to-night ? Do you want
help, money ? "
The negro shook his head.
" What is it, Cupe ? "
Pointing to the child, the black, still kneeling, said :
" Look at de Susie chile, doan look at Cupe."
" I have never seen the girl before, Cupe ; I swear by
the Lord — "
Cupe held up his hand : " Doan sw'ar' et out, Ma'se."
Then he added : " She hab no muddah."
"Well."
" She needs a faddah."
The man raised his fist, but Cupe again held out his
defenceless hand. "She needs de name.'"
" What damned scheme is this ? Nigger Cupe, by
God I '11 stretch your neck on the old elm in the back
pasture sure as Heaven lets me live till morning. Out,
out of the room ! When daylight comes the hounds
will be on your track."
No movement was made by the kneeling negro ; with
upstretched hands, uncovered head, he looked beseech-
ingly upward. Down the cheeks of his wrinkled face a
tear trickled.
242
Cupe's Plea for Susie's Name
" You shall be thrashed until your back is bloody as
sure as the Lord — "
He was again interrupted by the kneeling black, who
held up his hand, the palm exposed. " See yo' de scar
in de han' ob Cupe ? "
" What is that to me ? "
" Dah am no feah fo' de flesh in de heaht ob de man
who b'lebes in de sign. Save de honah ob yoah own
chile, Ma'se, an' den cut de back ob de nigger."
" I care nothing for your signs. Go ! "
" Gib de Susie chile her name," pleaded the negro ;
*' the yinnecent gearl hab asked, ' Am I only nigger
Susie ? ' Lis'n, Ma'se Manley, please lis'n. In de cole
Canerdy Ian' Susie libed wid Cupe an' Dinah, who take
her out ob Kaintuck. De yeahs come an' go, an' et
wah cole near 'bout all de time. Cupe work in de day
an' Dinah stay wid Susie, an' no ha'm come t' any ob
dem — but et wah not like libin' in de ole cabin in Kain-
tuck. Cupe come home one night, an' Dinah say :
' Susie ax a quistion t'-day.' ' An' yo' ansah et, Dinah ? '
'No.' 'What wah de quistion?' ' She say, " In de
school I sit in de seat wid Mary Jones, an' in de uddah
seat sit An'e Moo'e, an' in de nex' seat sit Lucy SmifF."
" E'zac'ly." I ansah. ' An' den I tu'n de subject by
sayin' : " De teachah am a kind man ef he do weah a
coa'se, woman-like dress an' a string ob beads." She
say : " Yes ; but he ax my name ag'in, an' I tole him,
' Susie.' ' Susie what ? ' ' Jes Susie.' An' den he say :
' Tole de fo'ks yo' lib wid t' sen' de uddah name t'-mor-
rah, an' tole 'em I '11 call t' see 'em soon.' Am I only
Susie, Aunt Dinah ? " she ax, an' a tear come into her
eye.'
" ' Dinah,' say Cupe, ' Dinah, when de mahn'n comes
back we '11 start t' ole Kaintuck, back fo' de name ob de
243
Stringtown on the Pike
chile.' An' heah we am, Ma'se Manley. Dah am
nuffin moah' t' say."
No reply was made by the man, but his anger seemed
to have been somewhat soothed.
After an interval Cupe continued : " Dah wah bad
signs on de way back an' dah hab be'n ebil omen sense
de good ole Ian' wah reached, but heah de chile am at
las' in de home ob her pap. Look up, Susie."
The child raised her face, and gazed into that of the
white man.
"She doan ax fo' money, she doan ax fo' Ian', cr
dresses, er rings. She doan ax fo' nuffin money kin
brung, er fo' what doan b'long t' her; de yinnecent
chile ax fo' de name she am 'titled to an' ax et ob de
big, rich man who tu'ned a lone baby out into de worl'
outen a name. De debbil nebbah did nuffin wussah."
" You insulting scoundrel — "
" Cupe an' Dinah lub de gearl an' lub de Ian' ob
Kaintuck bettah dan all de worl' b'side. But fo' de
good ob de chile, ef yo' '11 take her into de house an'
open yoah heaht t' de yinnecent orfin, an' gib her de
name she need an' yo' owe t' her, we two ole niggers '11
tu'n back to de cole Canerdy Ian' an' nebbah look on
her face ag'in. Please, Ma'se Manley, an' de Lawd '11
bress yo' in de day ob jubilee."
Mr. Manley pointed to the door.
" Fo' de lub ob yoah chile, yoah own chile, Ma'se .? "
Still he pointed to the door. " Go ! "
The old man arose. Dinah for the first time moved
to the front ; she stood to the right of Mr, Manley,
Cupe to his left.
" Will yo' damn yoah own chile by stealin' her name
'way ? Bettah steal her money er cut her froat."
Mr. Manley raised his clenched fist. " Dog of a
244
Cupe's Plea for Susie's Name
nigger, you lie, you lie ! " The negroes sprang forward
simultaneously. Cupe wrapped his long arms around
Manley, holding him tightly. Dinah jerked forth a
strong strap, and before the prisoner realised what they
were about lashed his ankles together, while with another
strap she bound his arms close to his side. The move-
ments of the actors were unexpected, the strength dis-
played was unlooked for, the expertness with which they
did their work amazing. The prisoner became a pris-
oner without realising the fact until he was bound, and
then he instantly regained his natural calmness.
" You '11 be flogged in the morning until your back
is raw, Cupe," he quietly said.
But Cupe before replying set the helpless man in his
easy-chair, then said : " De lash am not so painful es
de brand ob de fiah. Cupe kin stan' dem bof. Ma'se,
de Lawd knows Cupe lubs yo' yit, but he lubs de Susie
gearl moah. Yo' hab done wrong t' yo'selb, Ma'se, an'
yo' hab done wrong t' Susie, yoah own chile."
" I have not, Cupe. The Lord knows — "
Cupe again interrupted him.
"■ Two times befo' yo' call on de Lawd. Do yo'
wan' t' lebe de mattah ob de trufF ob yoah words t'
de Lawd ? "
" The Lord witness that I have had no part in
wronging that child."
" De Lawd mus' be de witness; yo' .hab called de
'zact numbah ob times on de one who kin prube de
right. De Lawd shall be de jedge." Then slowly,
earnestly, as if uttering a sacred command, he said :
" Brung de o'deal bean, Dinah, brung bof de o'deal
bean."
245
CHAPTER XL
THE FEARFUL AFRICAN ORDEAL TEST
SOMETHING in the tone of the old man startled
the prisoner. A chill crept over him. Brought
up as he had been with the negroes, he realised that
unless the intruders had been reckless of personal danger
or sure of the success of their undertaking they would
not have been so rash as to commit such an outrage on
a Kentucky gentleman. It might mean death to them.
For the first time in his life Mr. Manley felt the
sensation of fear. Too well did he realise the extent to
which a fanatical fatalist, such as he knew Cupe to be,
would carry his measures, did he believe it a duty im-
posed by supernatural power.
" De bean, Dinah, gib me de bean."
Unbuttoning the bosom of her dress, the woman
drew forth a leather bag. Cupe opened it by means
of a draw-string and poured into his palm three kidney-
shaped beans, each about half an inch in diameter and
two inches long, which he held before the prisoner.
" Ma'se, ef Cupe had be'n bohn in de hot Afriky Ian'
he 'd hab be'n a king. Dis is de bean my gran'dad.
King ob de Gol'coas' ob Afriky, brought t' America.
Et wah raised on a sacred vine dat only kings might
grow. No uddah man wah 'lowed t' touch de precious
bean." He reverently raised one of the nuts between
the tip of his forefinger and his thumb ; " Et am de
sacred ordeal nut" he said in an undertone.
246
The Fearful African Ordeal Test
" Et kin tole ef a man am lyin'. Ef a man am
s'pected ob killin' anuddah man de o'deal nut kin prube
de fac'. Ef a man am s'pected ob hoodoo work, de o'deal
bean kin show ef he be a hoodoo man. De woman
what act de witch kin fool de doctah an' her husban',
but she kin not fool de o'deal bean. De o'deal bean am
God's bean, an' only de son ob a king kin make de o'deal
test. Cupe am de son ob a king." ^
"God Almighty, Cupe," cried Manley, "you are
carrying your superstition too far ! "
" De Lawd am goin' t' prube ef yo' hab be'n tellin'
de truff 'bout de Susie chile."
"That devilish bean has no power; it is senseless."
" De o'deal nut kin do no ha'm to de yinnecent, but
et am suah defFt' de guilty man. Yo, need hab no feah
ef yo' hab tole de trufF, but de man who take de o'deal
test had bettah say his prayers ef de lie am on his lips."
He turned to the woman : " Make de drink, Dinah ; "
and Cupe handed her one of the beans.
1 This is according to the custom of the natives at the mouth of the
Calabar river, Africa. But instead of a painless death the suspected
person (or rather, victim) always perished miserably, suffering most
intensely. In this connection the following by W. F. Daniell, Esq.
On the N'atives of Old Calabar, in the Edinburgh New Philosophical
Journal, Vol. 40, 1846, pp. 313-327 (p. 318), is of interest: "The
Government of the Old Calabar towns is a monarchical despotism
rather mild in its general character, although sometimes severe and
absolute in its details. The King and chief inhabitants ordinarily
constitute a court of justice, in which all country disputes are ad-
justed, and to which every prisoner suspected of capital offences is
brought, to undergo examination and judgment. If found guilty,
they are usually forced to swallow a deadly poison, made from the
poisonous seeds of an aquatic leguminous plant, which rapidly des-
troys life. This poison is obtained by pounding the seeds and macerat-
ing them in water, which acquires a white milky colour." To the
above it may be added that this " Ordeal Test " was applied also to
persons who displeased the ruler and who consequently made this
a means to an end.
247
Stringtown on the Pike
Dinah had often been called to assist in the mansion
during parties and celebrations given in other days.
Straight to the kitchen she went, crushed the bean and
pounded it into meal. Then she poured cold water
over the powder, set the pan on the wood embers still
glowing in the stove, stirred its contents slowly and
watched the liquid until it simmered. During the
period she mumbled strange words, made curious passes
and motions with her hands, over the decoction, and
once with her husky voice she sang a weird air such as
no civilised musician ever cast into notes. At last the
task was done. Cooling the decoction by holding the
pan in cold water, she poured the potion into a tumbler,
artfully decanting it from the dregs and carried the tea to
Cupe, who sat facing the helpless man.
The little girl in the meantime had fallen asleep and
rested on the sofa, but now her eyes were wide open.
" Ma'se Manley," said Cupe, taking the glass in his
hand, " et es wid sorrah dat Cupe, who lubs yo' so
deahly, feels de 'cessity ob honorin' yo' on dis yocasion.
But yo' make him do et ; free times an' one extra yo'
call de Lawd t' witness de fac' yo' swo' to. De word
ob a fine gem'n am great, but de powah ob de o'deal
bean am greatah. Yo' may drink t' de glory ob de
Lawd." He held the cup to the ashen lips of the
man, who made no movement.
" Drink de o'deal tea, an' ef yo' hab tole de truff yoah
res' 'II be sweet an' yoah wakin' pleasant."
"You black scoundrel ! " answered the helpless man ;
"you fanatical lunatic! I won't swallow a drop."
" Yo' call' on de Lawd an' yo' mus' drink t' de Lawd.
Et pains Cupe t' 'blige yo' t' op'n yoah lips, but he hab
drenched ho'ses an' mules, an' kin drench a man. Drink,
er Cupe 'II poah de sacred tea down yoah froat."
248
The Fearful African Ordeal Test
" Cupe, do you want to murder me ? Dinah, when
I was a chiM you held me on your knee, you have told
me stories by the cabin fire, you have dressed me in the
morning, watched over me during the day, and put me
into bed at night. Dinah, am I not the orphan child
you raised ? "
" Cupe am de son ob a king."
" Dinah, I gave you money to buy tombstones for
your children."
" De sacred o'deal comes from God, cussed be de
pusson who bre'k de cha'm."
The man turned an imploring look on Cupe, who
answered : " De o'deal bean am ha'mless t' de yin-
necent."
" Don't poison me, Cupe ; I ain't a dog. Shoot me.
A man should not die by poison." The negro shook
his head. The prisoner made one last appeal.
"My children, my two girls," continued Mr. Manley.
"For their sakes."
" Dah am free gearls."
The man shook his head.
Cupe pointed to the sleeping child.
"No."
'* God help yo' Ma'se. Down wid de o'deal."
There was no hope now ; that no had steeled the
negro's heart. By a method that must have been taught
the mixer of the ordeal by one who was expert at forc-
ing a liquid down the throat of a struggling person, Cupe
and Dinah forced the prisoner to drain the strange potion
to the dregs. Not a drop was spilled. Then Dinah
went to the kitchen, washed the glass and pan, removed
every evidence of disorder made by herself, and re-
turned to find Cupe still facing the now very frightened
man.
249
Stringtown on the Pike
" Cupe," he said, " I feel strangely. There is a
whirling in my brain; you have poisoned your old
friend, Cupe."
" De o'deal am ha'mless t' de yinnecent."
" Cupe, I know nothing about the mother of the
girl. I have never seen the girl before."
" De woman who carry de chile in her arms say dat
yo' dribe her out into de night. She wrote et all down,
an she swo' t' dat papah befo' de Stringtown jestice ob
de peace."
" My daughters ! " moaned the man, who now real-
ised fully his position — poison in his blood, disgrace in
the future. " Cupe, I beg you not to let that paper
come to light — I beg you."
" Et hab be'n read by de Stringtown clerk."
The man's mind wandered ; the deadly African ordeal
was burning out his nerve power.
" Save me, Cupe, save the honour of my children,"
he implored. " In the drawer of that secretary you will
find diamonds and pearls."
Cupe shook his head. Too well did he know the
symptoms of that fearful ordeal, from which no man
ever recovered. All who drank that potion were guilty.
" De jewels doan all b'long t' Susie."
" Take them all, but burn that paper. You mean to
doubly murder me, Cupe ? "
" De Lawd am yoah jedge, not Cupe."
The eyes of the man were now fixed on vacancy, his
breath came spasmodically, his skin turned ashen white.
" God help me. God save my children ! "
No sign of sympathy was exhibited by the witnesses
of the tragedy. Standing by his side, they coldly
watched his spasmodic struggles until the life of the
miserable man went out.
250
The Fearful African Ordeal Test
" Dinah," said Cupe, " de Lawd hab be'n de jedge.
Bressed be de name ob de Lawd ! "
In the grey of morning the merry frolickers returned.
In the cheerful sitting-room Mr. Manley sat in his easy-
chair, his head bowed on his folded arms that rested on
the stand before him. In his hand, between the fore-
finger and the thumb, was the ashened stump of a cigar.
The lamp burned dimly, an open book lay face down on
the table, beside it stood a decanter and a glass.
The doctor came. " Death was instantaneous. A
painless touch at the heart, a drooping of the head;
peaceable as an infant's sleep, came his last call."
The preacher came. " A good man has passed away,
his name honoured throughout the land that knew him.
His every act was that of righteousness ; never did the
poor or wronged appeal to him in vain. The soul of
honour, his course on earth was a just one. Typical
of sincerity, his every act is clear to the world, his
record is open to the inspection of whomsoever will.
Peaceably, as death should come to one who stands ever
ready to die, did death come here. Touched by the
kindly finger of God, this upright man went contentedly
to his final home in the bright beyond."
251
CHAPTER XLI
THE STRINGTOWN SCHOOL
THE bell on the pole in front of the Stringtown
schoolhouse had sounded the ending of the after-
noon recess. Boys and girls together in struggling dis-
order crowded through the door into the room. In a
few moments the noisy group had been distributed, and
the majority at once became absorbed in the lessons that
were to end the task of the day. Professor Drake had
called the class in history to the recitation bench and
had even asked a question of the head student, when the
proceedings were interrupted by a knock.
Every head in the room was raised, each pair of eyes
were fixed on the entrance. " Open the door, Sammy
Drew," came the order from the teacher, and I sprang to
do the honours of the occasion. Before me stood Mr.
Nordman, the old gentleman who lived on the String-
town pike, south of the village. With a nod he passed
me by and in his genial manner reached out his hand to
Professor Drake. But I did not close the door, neither
did I move in nor out. Close behind him, and now
facing nie, stood a boy about my own age. Our eyes
met ; the devil could not have leered more wickedly
than did he as his eye caught mine. His turned-up
nose grew more pointed, his thin red lips drew tightly
and stretched over his gums until I saw impressions
of his teeth marked in white through their very sub-
stance. His hat was held in his hand — a hand as red
252
The Stringtown School
as the foot of a duck ; his mop of red hair glistened in
the sunshine like oak leaves after a frosty spell in
autumn — red as are the leaves of the autumn oak, red
as is no other shade of red.
Then occurred an amazing thing ; while yet I faced
the boy his impish eyes flashed and created sensations in
my mind that words could not have done. " We two
are enemies." Perhaps my own eyes answered his stare.
Be this as it may, all the viciousness of my nature up-
rose, and back into his face I leered as insolently as did
he into mine. His lips turned whiter still as he drew
them more tightly over his closed teeth, and sure as
truth can be written, his crimson ears wagged back and
forth and mocked me. Then while yet they waved
before my eyes, the scalp of his head began to creep
backward ; it drew upon the crown until his elongated
forehead reached near to his ear tips, after which the
flexible skin flipped suddenly back and gyrated round
and round, then back and forth, moving, as it did so,
that mop of hair, which, as the movements of the scalp
ceased, rose up as do the bristles on a wild hog's back.
Never before had I seen such gymnastics ; never since
have I seen his equal.
But an instant did it take for these things to come
and pass. I alone saw him, and he alone saw my face,
for my form closed the jar of the door. We raised our
fists as by a signal, and then, just as the teacher's voice
broke upon the air, we sprang at each other as do boys
who hate each other. Boys fight with teeth and fists
and finger nails and feet, and so did we, to the credit of
the most vicious. Unmindful of blow or bruise, of bite
or finger clutch, we fought in a manner worthy of those
who fight in behalf of a good cause, but neither good
nor bad cause had we for which to fight. It was simply
253
Stringtown on the Pike
fight. The bruises made by the stony pavement on
which we rolled were unfelt, the blow of the fist that
" smashed " my nose and bloodied my face and gar-
ments gave me no pain, the bite that left the print of
two sets of teeth on my arm did not concern me. I
gave as good as I received — that point alone was my
ambition — and when we two combatants were parted
by Professor Drake and Mr. Nordman it would have
been difficult to say whether either had been punished
more than the other. " A devilish good fight on short
notice," said Mr. Nordman, in a tone that bespoke no
ill will; but Prof. Drake took another view of the
matter. A gross breach of discipline had been com-
mitted and a strict rule of the school broken.
We were led inside, and then Prof. Drake chalked
two small circles on the floor. Side by side, each in his
ring, stood the Red-Headed Boy and myself, both defiant,
each more vicious than before. My blood was scat-
tered over his garments, and clumps of his red hair were
sticking between my fingers. The eye next me was
closed, the ear on the same side was lacerated and
bloody. " A devilish spunky pair, I say," added Mr.
Nordman, who now occupied a chair on the rostrum
beside Prof. Drake. But the indignant teacher made no
reply.
" Samuel Drew," he spoke severely, " explain to me
the cause of this disgraceful aff^air."
1 made no answer. There was no " cause " to
explain.
" Did this boy say anything to warrant you in striking
him ? "
" No, sir."
" Did he strike you first ? "
" No, sir."
254
The Stringtown School
" Had he struck you previously ? "
" No, sir."
" Did he give you reason to fight ? "
« Yes, sir."
" What did he do ? "
" Nothing."
" Nothing ! and yet gave you reason to fight him,"
said the teacher ironically.
" Yes, sir," I answered.
Turning to the other boy, Mr. Drake asked :
" Did Sammy say anything to you ? "
« Nuthin'."
" Did he strike you first ? "
" No."
" Have you and Sammy fought before this time ? "
" No."
" Why did you fight r "
" Fer nuthin'."
The eyes of Drake dropped to the floor. As they
did so, the lacerated ear of the Red-Headed Boy, the ear
toward me, moved up and down, back and forth. The
young devil was mocking me again. I could not answer
him in the same way, but I scraped a tuft of his hair
from between my fingers, and as he eyed me, slyly I
twirled it before his gaze. The war was still on.
" It will do no good to flog these boys," said Mr.
Nordman, who it could be seen was not disturbed over
the combat.
" I am not in favour of physical punishment," an-
swered the professor. " I do not whip boys. Discipline,
however, is necessary. I must punish them severely."
" Professah," spoke Mr. Nordman, " will you permit
me, sah, to make a suggestion ? "
" Certainly. I shall value it.'*
255
Stringtown on the Pike
*' I am an old man and have learned some things as I
have passed along. Blood is blood, sah, and blood
counts. Young folks are not old folks. I cannot say
that I can see anything wrong about what these boys
have done, unless it be in the place selected for the fight.
It wah fair on both sides, and neither of them showed
the white feather. School is for study, I '11 admit, but
not all of it can be study and, by Gad ! when the time
comes that American boys are punished for an innocent
tussle and taught never to fight, sah, the prospect for
our country is devilish bad, Professah ! "
Again the professor flushed.
" I am an old man, Professah Drake, and you will
take kindly what I have to say. Don't punish the boy
who faces the music, but him who runs away. If you '11
persuade Sammy to fight no mo'ah during school hours,
I ansah for that chap," and he pointed to my antagonist.
" But unless something strongah than yoah rules prevent,
they will fight it out yet, sure as shooting, Professah."
Professor Drake mused a moment.
" Sammy, take your place at your desk," he said.
Looking about the room, he selected a vacant seat.
separated quite a distance from my bench, for the new
boy.
256
CHAPTER XLII
Susie's introduction to the stringtown school
AS I sat at my desk that afternoon, my mind reverted
to the past. I recalled that it had really been
predicted that this boy and I were to be antagonists.
Then, as my meditating mind drew a still clearer view
of the past, I recalled the exact words of the black
omen-reader who had warned me to '■^ Beware of the
Red-Head Boy ! " Back and forth ran fragments of
the long-neglected prediction, until at last I caught
another sentence : " Et say dat de Red-Head Boy '11 die
sudden, an' dat yo' an' Susie '11 be de cause ; an' dat
yo '11 die sudden, an' dat de Red-Head Boy an' Susie '11
be de cause."
There sat the evil object of the omen-reading seer ; and
then, as the last part of the sentence ran again through
my mind, I glanced over among the girls, at one who
came among us in the early part of the present session.
I remember that morning well. She was accompanied
by old negro Cupe, who stood with bare head beside the
open door while her name was being recorded and her
bench place selected. Every morning the negro brought
his charge to the door, every evening when school was
dismissed he stood patiently waiting outside. A little,
shrinking bit of a girl was she, strangely dressed, neat,
clean, starched and prim. I recall her timid look as she
stood that morning before Professor Drake — the shy
17 257
Stringtown on the Pike
glance she shot about the room, the shrinking, drooping
eye that fell to the floor as she met the gaze of those
about, for all eyes were fixed upon her — a new
scholar.
" Your name, child ? " asked Professor Drake, who
with pen in hand was prepared to enter the name on the
school record. It was merely a question of formality,
for all of Stringtown knew the girl, all of Stringtown
knew her history, how she had disappeared when the
two negroes did and returned again with them from
Canada.
" Susie," was the low answer.
" Your other name, please ? "
" I am only Susie."
I who sat near caught the flush on her cheek as her
eyes drooped.
The teacher seemed inclined to ask another question.
Then, perhaps because he too noticed the cheek flush,
forbore and motioned her to be seated.
" Children," he said, speaking to the school, " we
have a new scholar to-day, one long absent from String-
town, but whom I have wished since her return to
number among us. This child " — and he looked at
Susie — " deserves to be treated with the utmost kind-
ness. She is my especial charge for she has excited my
personal interest. While no favouritism can be shown
by me for or against any pupil, still I wish it to be
known that whoever mistreats this child will incur my
severest displeasure ; and that those who aid and favour
her will please me very much. Let the older girls take
an interest in her welfare by assisting the little girl in
every way possible, and in making her school-days
pleasant." Then looking about the room, he said :
'' My child take your seat at the desk with Jennie Man-
258
Susie's Introduction to School
ley." Jennie Manley was the youngest daughter of the
planter who had suddenly died one night a few months
before.
And so Susie came shrinkingly into the Stringtown
school in the commencement of this session, the school
I had dumbly attended all my school life, and to which,
now came the Red-Headed Boy of Nordman. We three
were at last together in the same room.
The girls of our Stringtown school gave Susie a warm
reception ; they opened their hearts to the waif, and
soon the wild child was made to feel at home. Bright
and cheerful, grateful for little kindnesses, she made for
herself a place in each heart, and Professor Drake had no
need to ask further favours in her behalf.
Not so warm was the reception the boys of our school
gave " Red-Head." His advent, it is true, had been such
as to merit their admiration, and his subsequent deport-
ment was defiant enough to please any Kentucky-bred
boy. But he made no friends. He came alone to
school each morning, alone he left when study hours
were over. During recess, if the weather was fair, he
sat on the fence and whittled, taking no part in the
games of the boys ; if the weather was bad he sought a
lone spot inside the room. His sarcastic face leered at
all who approached him. Within a week no boy spoke
to him, he in turn gave no word to others, and an occa-
sional cat wail could be heard when his back was turned.
But no other boy sought a direct quarrel. By common
consent, it seemed, the field was left for us — we two
who were conspicuous in that we never looked at each
other and alone gave no taunt when accident brought us
together ; too deep was the hatred that down in our
natures spoke from each to the other, rendering no
taunt necessary. War had been declared when first we
259
Stringtown on the Pike
met, and it seemed evident that no peace could come
between us until the fight had been finished.
And so the " Red-Head " came and went ; never did
he seem to look at any girl, surely he did not speak to
any boy. As I recall those days I perceive, as I could
not then, that if ever a boy stood isolated in the world
that Stringtown boy was alone. And as I think of the
dreary part our school was to him, I cannot but ques-
tion, had I not met him half way and struck that blow,
would he have struck me ? If we had not fought that
afternoon in the old Stringtown schoolyard, would the
chain of events that followed have been diverted ? Had
the boys and girls of our school sought to befriend him,
as we might have done, and should have done, would
the evil in his make-up have strengthened as it did ?
Would goodness and grace have upstarted and displaced
the pernicious emotions that seemed to then dominate
his life ? I cannot answer, and these musings are not
pleasant, for it is evident now that there was cause to
seek for evil in myself.
260
CHAPTER XLIII
THE CHALLENGE OF RED-HEAD
MEMORY is not less vivid than is sight. I can
see that uncouth boy now as plainly as I saw
him then. Sitting on the line fence that separated our
school from the neighbour on the south, his favourite
place was a conspicuous locust post, that near the pike
line gave a good view both up and down the street.
His employment consisted in watching this road, whit-
tling a stick and sharpening his great horn-handled
knife. I might say that his main object seemed to be to
scan the pike; for even while whittling, his bright, little
eyes were ever glancing about as though he were expect-
ing some one. Watchful may better express the sen-
sation that comes now to my mind as I reflect over his
method and deportment. That knife needs also a word,
for it was ever in his hand. It was not an ordinary
pocket-knife, but big enough to " stick a hog." True,
the blade closed into a rude buckhorn handle, still it was
not such a clasp-knife as merchants carry in stock. It
seemed to have been rudely made by a blacksmith. Be
that as it may, Red-Head knew how to use it. Indif-
ferent to our games or pastimes, he held himself aloof,
knife in hand, perched upon the fence, gazing up the
pike. Yet occasionally he did take part in some boyish
turn.
We were playing at hop-skip-and-jump, we school-
boys. The game had drawn itself down until the two
261
Stringtown on the Pike
rival jumpers of the school confronted each other.
Every boy but Red-Head had taken part, and he, in-
different, sat on the fence idly gazing first up the pike
and then down upon the striving contestants below him.
A sneer from some boy met his ear, but sneers were not
new to him.
" Afraid to jump, Red-Head ? " cried one.
" Who 's afeard ? "
" Red-Head ! " piped in another.
Slowly climbing down from his perch on the opposite
side of the fence from us, the mountain boy closed his
knife, and with a run and a jump sprang straight toward
the tall fence. High into the air his lithe form rose,
drew itself into a knot as the top of the fence was
reached, doubled a somersault in the air, then over with-
out touching, over and far beyond was he when those
heels struck and marked the soft earth. Never before
had such a jump been made in the Stringtown school-
yard — or rather, I should say, into the Stringtown
school-yard. We village boys stood amazed at the feat
of the youth from the mountains, who gave us no word,
but went back to his post, climbed the fence and turned
his gaze again toward the south.
Some time after that we were shooting at a mark, the
weapon being a rifle of small bore (a squirrel rifle), the
object a sheet of paper on a plank against a distant tree.
" Strange amusement that for children ! " some may say.
True, but I speak of Kentucky in the 'sixties. Again
some defiant boy singled out Red-Head and challenged
him to join us — dared him to shoot. Indifferent as he
had been in the jumping contest did he seem in this.
Leaning the gun we used against the fence, he stepped
to the line, and before we could anticipate his object,
from an inside pocket of his jacket he drew a bright
262
The Challenge of Red-Head
revolver. Raising it, without aiming, he fired and
waited the result. Several boys sprang to the mark ;
there was the bullet hole in the plank far above the
wildest shot we had made. A cry of derision, a series
of cat mews, a chorus of sarcastic jeers, rang upon the
air.
" Better git a rest," sneered one.
" Fools ! " he said, " thet 's the mark tcr shoot at.
Ef yo' wah raised in the moun'ns, an' would shoot at a
whole sheet ov papah, they 'd take yoah gun away an'
drive yo' off. Thet 's the mark, I say — one bullet hole
fer the centre an' five in a ring jest 'roun' et." As he
spoke his arm was raised again, and as fast as the trigger
could be pulled came five shots. Again we sprang to
the distant mark, and there, in a close circle, equal dis-
tances apart, was a ring of little holes. I recall the
exact words he had used, " One bullet hole fer the cen-
tre an' five in a ring jest 'roun' et."
But, alas ! our challenge resulted in disaster to the
expert marksman. No boy of the Stringtown school
was permitted to carry a pistol. That weapon was
positively prohibited by Professor Drake, who considered
the carrying of a pistol by a boy to be sufficient cause
for expulsion. We had been deeply absorbed in our
sport, and as the hand that held the spent revolver
dropped, the boy who held it was taken by the shoulder
in the firm grasp of our teacher, who, unperceived by us,
had from behind joined the group, every eye of which
had been fixed on the mark.
Red-Head was led away by his captor, while we who
had been the cause of his arrest, but who had escaped,
hung our heads.
In a moment the bell calling us to the room rang, and
knowing that trouble was in the air, we sought our
263
Stringtown on the Pike
places. There sat the teacher ; near him the empty re-
volver lay on the table, and before him stood the captive
child awaiting the outcome of the crime he had com-
mitted in thus breaking the strictest rule of our village
school.
Then spoke Professor Drake, addressing the culprit :
" It is against the rules of this school to carry concealed
w^eapons. Some years ago a boy was killed by his class-
mate in this very yard, and since that no pistol has been
allowed in school. I must punish you severely, but be-
fore doing so it is but just that I should ask why you
have disgraced yourself by breaking this rule ? "
*■'■ I hain't disgraced myself, an' I hain't hurt nobody."
" But you surely know that it is wrong to carry a
weapon like this."
" It ain't wrong fer me ter carry ct."
*' It is never right to carry a pistol in a civilised com-
munity."
" Teachah, ef yo' knew my story, yo' would n't say
et 's wrong fer me ter carry a gun. Ef yo' hed been
through what I hev, an' looked fer what 's com'n', yo' d
carry one too."
This was said half persuasively, half defiantly. The
head of the boy was raised proudly ; no appearance of
shame bespread his face, no drooping glance. " I hed
the gun in my pocket when I fought thet feller " (he
pointed to me), " an' did n't use et. I don't intend ter
shoot boys. I hain't but one use fer et, an' when the
time comes I '11 need the gun awful bad, teachah."
" Tell me your story."
" Et's too long, an' don't consarn nobody but me."
" Tell me why it is right for you to carry a pistol. I
command it. Tell me all."
264
CHAPTER XLIV
red-head's story of the feud
" T 'M from the moun'ns, I am, I don't know jest now
A we'uns came ter live thar, an' et don't make no
difF'r'nce. We always lived in the moun'ns ov East
Kaintuck. Our house w'an't no great shakes, et jest
hed two rooms an' a mud chimney. Thet's all.
" Dad said, said he, one day when I wah a little thing,
an' he pinted back over the hog-back hill b'hind the
cabin — ' Don't none ov yo' children cross the divide.
Keep this side ov Bald Hill, fer thar's a feud' twixt Hol-
combs and we-uns.' I can't remember when he fust
said this, et war when I war too little ter remember, but
he said et often. An' we never crost the hog-back hill,
none ov us, fer dad said thet the feud war ofF till the
Holcombs er we-uns broke et by cross'n' the divide.
An' es we grew bigger, brother Jim an' me, mam kept
us up in the story ov the feud.
" ' Ef et ever happens thet the feud es on ag'in,' sez
she, ' thar won't be no end ter et es long es thar es a
Holcomb er a Nordman livin'.' She said et hed been
one ov the bloodiest feuds ov the moun'ns, an' more 'n a
dozen hed been killed on each side, an' she showed us
the row ov Holcombs on one side ov the graveyard an'
the row of we-uns on tother side. I axed her what the
feud war 'bout, but she said, said she : ' I don't jest re-
member. Et b'gun befoah I come inter the family, but
265
Stringtown on the Pike
et don't make no difF'r'nce 'bout the beginnin', thet don't
consarn us.'
" An' dad, he did n't talk much 'bout et neither, but
when brother Jim an' I could hold a gun he taught us
all 'bout shootin' ! ' Et air fer bus'ness p'r'aps,' he said ;
' ef the feud begins ag'in yo' boys '11 be in't.' There ain't
no mo'ah ter say, teachah, 'bout the feud, an' I don't
know nuthin' mo'ah. Jim an' me I'arned ter shoot, an'
et did n't make much difference what et war we shot at,
we hit et. An' dad grew monstrous proud ov us, an'
one day I heerd him say ter mam thet he did n't care
now ef the feud war on ag'in. But he kept tellin' me 'n
Jim ter keep this side ov Bald Hill, an' we did. Jim
war 'bout two years older then me, teachah.
'' But one day we started a young deer, an' et run fer
the divide. We bed n't no guns, fer we war out fishin',
but es et war a leetle critter, we started ter try an' ketch
et runnin'. We did n't notice whar et run, an' befoah I
knew et, we war goin' down the moun'n tother side ov
Bald Hill. Jim war ahead an' mighty close on the deer
when bang went a gun in the thicket, an' Jim dropped."
Here the boy stopped, hung his head and drew his
coarse sleeve across his eyes. " 'Scuse me, teachah,"
he said, " I ain't used t' talkin', an' et makes me tired t'
speak so 'long."
In a moment he resumed : " I run t' Jim an' raised
his head, but et war no use, he did n't know me. He
war dead. A minie ball bed gone in jest above one ear
an' out jest below tother. I could n't do nuthin' fer Jim,
an' so I drapped him an' started ter sneak fer the thicket.
I wanted ter see who done the shootin', an' I did see,
too. I did n't go straight for the spot, but snook ter the
right an' got inter a hollah, an' then I crept up till I
come near ter the place the smoke come from, but thar
266
Red-Head's Story of the Feud
want no one thar. Jest then I looked back, an' slippin'
'long the hillside, I saw a man stooped over tryin' ter
keep the laurel thicket 'twixt Jim an' hisself. He got
'twixt an' old stump an' Jim an' cocked his gun an'
looked up. He war a monstrous tall man, Old Holcomb.
He could see Jim a-layin' thar, but he didn't seem ter
care fer him, an' I saw thet he war lookin' fer me.
Lord, teachah, ef I hed only hed my gun then !
" But es I did n't, I jest laid low an' then slipped inter
the briars, an' sneaked 'roun' the hill an' made fer home.
*' Mam an' dad an' little Sis war sittin' at the table
eatin' supper when I stepped inter the door. ' Whar 's
Jim ? ' mam axed.
" ' Shot ! '
" Dad got up an' pinted ter Bald Hill. *■ Hev yo' boys
crost the divide ? '
" ' Yes.'
" ' Es he dead ? '
" I jest put a finger on each side ov my head. ' Minie
ball,' was all I said. ' He 's lyin' jest over the hog-
back.'
" Dad turned ter the fireplace an' took down his big
b'ar gun — the big b'ar gun — ' I '11 bring Jim home. Yo'
folks keep in the cabin till I come. Don't yo' go out.'
" ' The feud 's on ag'in,' war all mam said. But she
blew the coals up an' commenced ter run bullets fer
the big gun an' she set me ter cleanin' up the rifle an'
revolvers.
" But dad did n't come home till long after dark, an'
he did n't come home then nuther. Sis an' I went ter
sleep, but I guess mam did n't, fer 'bout daylight I war
waked by a knock on the door, an' es I opened my eyes
I saw she war dressed. She took down the ir'n bar an'
let dad in ; he hed Jim in his arms. ' The feud 's on/
267
Strino;town on the Pike
he said. ' Thar '11 be a grave dug 'cross the hill too
when we bury Jim. Et war a long shot, but I caught
him through the winder.'
'' ' Who 'd yo' git ? ' asked mam.
" ' Don't know whether 't is the old man er the boy,
they 're 'bout the same size, but et's one ov 'em.'
" Well, teachah, we buried Jim in our row, an' next
day Sam Holcomb war buried in thern. Then we all
got ready ter kill an' be killed. Thar wa'n't much ter
do but ter kiver the winders close, ter keep the guns
clean an' then sneak in an' out the house. Et war
watch an' sneak an' hunt an' sneak. We killed all our
dogs 'ceptin' one fice thet stayed in the house ter bark,
fer they hedn't sense 'nough ter keep out ov sight, an' ef
a dog war seen in the bushes et would give us away.
One night mam war shot by a ball that come through
the winder. Et war jest a little crack, but big 'nough
ter let light out an' a bullet in. She wa'n't killed dead,
but she could n't live long, an' she knowed et. ' Red,'
she said ter me, ' take good care ov little Sissie. She
air too young to fight, but when she 's grown up she '11
marry an' raise a family ter help carry on the feud. An'
Red,' she said, ' make me one promise.'
" ' Go on, mam, I '11 do et.'
"'Don't yo' let up on the feud. Red. Et must be
ter the end.'
" ' Yo' need n't make me promise thet,' 1 said, ' I '11
fight et out.'
" ' I'd die happy ef your dad were livin' ter help yo'.'
" ' Never mind dad,' I said. ' Thar air only one feller
left over the hill, the old man. Dad shot three ov 'em
before they got him, an' I shot one, an' we can't expect
ter hev all the luck.' "
Here the teacher interrupted. " Why did n't you go
268
Red-Head's Story of the Feud
for a doctor? Perhaps your mother's wound might not
have been necessarily fatal."
" Doctor nuthin'. Thar wa'n't no doctor 'n fifteen
miles ov our place ; b'sides, ef I hed opened the door
thet night I 'd hev got a ball too. Yo' don't know
nuthin' 'bout the moun'ns an' the feuds, teachah."
" You say that your father had been killed ? "
"Yes; fergot ter mention et, but he hed been shot
down 'bout a month befoah. Next mornin' I shut Sis
in the cabin an' sneaked over ter Jones' an' axed him
ter come an' bury mam ; an' I tell yo', teachah, things
war monstrous quiet 'bout our place fer a time after thet.
Sis hed I'arned ter keep still an' stay in the house. She
war only 'bout three years old, but she hed seen some
bad dahs, teachah, an' hed lots ov sense fer sech a little
thing. Jim war shot, dad war shot, an' mam war shot,
but thar wa'n't but one Holcomb left. An' it war Sis
er me next ef I could n't git him first ! "
For the second time the narrator stopped and drew
his coarse sleeve slowly across his eyes. " Et makes me
tired, I says, ter talk so long, teachah, but I '11 git my
wind an' be rested in a minit." Then he continued :
" I war too little ter use the big gun, an' hed ter trust
to the pistol er the light rifle, an et wa'n't fair now, fer
Tom Holcomb war the tallest man I ever seed, an' he
shot with a Springfield musket. But when a feller 's in
a feud, et don't make no difference 'bout the size. Et 's
kill er git killed. I did what 1 promised mam I 'd do
es best I could. I hed n't much chance, fer I hed ter
slip in an' out the cabin an' watch fer my own life an'
care fer Sis an' try ter git a bead on Holcomb. But
't wa'n't no use, things war ag'in me. I slipped out one
mornin' through the back door ter git some meal, fer
thar wa'n't a bite ov bread in the place, an' when I came
269
Stringtown on the Pike
back the front door war wide open. When I saw thet
open door I feared et meant trouble. I crept inter the
house the back way, an' thar in the open door, huggin'
her little rag doll, sat Sissie. I could see the head ov
the doll over her shoulder. The sun war shinin' bright
in her face, her back war toward me, her little head
leaned ag'in the side ov the door, an' she looked es
sweet es a pictur. ' Sis,' I said, ' Sissie, yo' mussent
sit in the doorj Tom Holcomb '11 git you, Sis.' But
she did n't say nuthin'. ' Guess she 's asleep,' I thought,
an' slipped ter her side an' jumped at her an' cried,
' Boo f Boo ! ' But she did n't move."
The boy's head dropped again, his chest heaved con-
vulsively. Sob after sob broke the air. Suddenly con-
trolling himself, he defiantly turned toward us boys.
"I'll thrash the feller what laughs et me. I ain't a
coward ef I did cry."
" My child," said the teacher, as he brushed away a
tear from his own eyes, for the affecting climax came so
suddenly as to unnerve him too, " no one blames you
for crying. I condemn myself for leading you to tell
in public this pathetic story of your life. It is I who
am in fault, but I did not know what was coming. It
is a shame."
" Yes," answered the boy, " et war a shame ter shoot
sech a chunk ov lead through sech a little bit ov a girl.
Thet bullet war big 'nough ter kill a b'ar. But I '11 git
even with Holcomb yit."
" I meant that it is a shame that I let you tell this
sorrowful story here."
" Et ain't done yet, teachah. The little thing hed
opened the door ter sit in the sunshine, an' a bullet the
size ov your thumb hed ploughed through her chest an'
out her back. I picked her up an' laid her on the bed,
270
Red-Head's Story of the Feud
an' then took an' old satchel an' put a few things inter
et (I hed n't much) an' carefully wrapped up the little
bloody doll, an' put thet on top. I hain't got nuthin'
else now ter mind me ov Sissie but thet doll. I barred
the front door an' slipped out the back way, out an' over
the spur ter Jones's house. I took my pistol — thet 's
the very pistol " (he pointed to the weapon on the table)
" an' left the guns an' everything else.
" ' Et ain't fair,' I said ter Jones ; ' Holcomb's too
big fer me.'
" ' Goin' ter run away ? ' said Jones.
" No ; goin' ter go away ter grow bigger. Tell Tom
Holcomb thet ef he wants me I '11 be in Stringtown on
the Pike."
" ' An' ef he don't foller yo' ? '
" ' When I 'm big 'nough ter handle a Springfield gun
I '11 be back ag'in. Tell him the feud 's on till one er
the other ov us es shot.'
" ' An' Sissie ! air yo' goin' ter leave Sissie ? ' " said
Jones.
" ' She don't need me no longer. Yo '11 find her on
the bed in the cabin. Bury her in the row, 'longside
ov mam. I shan't go ter the buryin', fo' I can't run no
risk ov old Holcomb's gun.'
" Thet 's all, teachah."
Drawing the child to his side, Professor Drake gently
smoothed the unkempt red hair, parting it with his
fingers in the place a part should be, but seldom before
had been seen. Then he spoke :
" And you expect Mr. Holcomb to follow you to
Stringtown ? "
" I looks fer him every minit, an' I hev ter watch
sharp. Thar ain't no other head like mine, an' es soon
es he sots eyes on et he '11 draw his gun. Thet 's why
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Stringtown on the Pike
I sits on the fence-post watchin' the pike ; ef I cotch
sight ov him first, et '11 help me powerful much."
" If he observes you before you see him ? "
" Holcomb's a dead shot, teachah, an' my head 's a
good mark. Thar ain't much chance. Teachah," he
continued, " please give me back my pistol an' give me
leave ter carry et, fer I needs et bad. I hain't no other
friend this side ov the graveyard in the moun'ns. Ef
I fights any ov these 'ere boys I '11 use my fists er a
stick er a stone. I '11 bite an' scratch, like the girls do,
I '11 pull hair like thet feller " (he pointed to me). " I
promise thet I '11 not use a gun lessen Holcomb comes.
Ef he does, et '11 mean the endin' of the feud one way
er tother, an' ef I hain't no gun et '11 be his way sure.
I 'm a bad boy, teachah, es yo' folks looks et me, but
yo' hain't seed things es I 've seed 'em. Yo' wa'n't
raised in the moun'ns, an' none ov yo' hain't no feud
ter fight out. Please give me back my gun. I '11 jest
set on the fence and won't bother nobody."
Deeply moved by Red-Head's dramatic story. Prof.
Drake stood for some moments in silent meditation.
" I perceive there comes a time," he mournfully said
to himself, " when duty demands that wrong be con-
tinued in behalf of wrong that has been established.
Alas, the law under which these people live makes that
which we call wrong into what they call right ! It is
wrong for me to allow this boy to carry a pistol with
murder in his heart, and surely that is the object. But
a greater wrong it would be to render him defenseless,
for he might in that condition encounter his enemy, the
misguided armed man, who would shoot him on sight."
Then taking the revolver from the table, the teacher
handed it to the pleading boy. " Child," he gently
said, " as a special privilege, I give you permission to
272
Red-Head's Story of the Feud
carry this weapon, which you need to defend your life,
but I shall speak to Mr. Nordman concerning this affair,
and endeavour to reach and disarm Mr. Holcomb, or at
least prevail on him to keep away from Stringtown."
" Nordman knows all 'bout it, and he takes my part.
But yo' needn't try t' stop Holcomb. He knows every
hole in the moun'ns, an' he don't intend t' quit 'till the
feud's fought t' the end. No one kin edge in. It's
him an' me fer et, teachah."
i8
273
CHAPTER XLV
" TELL ME, JENNIE, TELL ME WHAT IT IS "
\
THE fall session passed, the holidays came and
went, the spring session had nearly worn itself
away. The evil predictions concerning us three chil-
dren had passed from my mind, and no longer disturbed
over the Red-Head Boy, I looked forward to the coming
autumn, when I hoped that my life in the Stringtown
school would terminate. The session's close ap-
proached, Susie in loving friendship with all the girls,
my antagonist without a friend among the boys. Well
do I remember that fateful last morning.
That morning, of which the date is lost and need not
be revived, for the story I have to relate does no credit
to any day, the girls of the Stringtown school were, I
perceived as I sat in place before school opened, in sub-
dued excitement. Whispering groups in earnest con-
versation indicated that something of importance had
occurred to disturb them. When a boy chanced to
approach the lips would cease to move, but would be-
gin to buzz again on his departure, indicating that the
subject-matter was fit only for girls to hear. I sat alone
in my place, and so did Red-Head. We two boys had
troubles of our own. Red-Head and I had met again,
had " mouthed " each other, had parted to await by ap-
pointment the ending of the session now near at hand.
I knew full well that Professor Drake would not over-
look a second fight, and my antagonist knew that Mr.
274
"Tell me, Jennie, what it is"
Nordman had promised that he should be obedient and
break no rules. He sulked in his place, scowling at
whomsoever chanced to meet his gaze, while I sat
glumly in my place meditating over the coming fight.
The prediction of the old negro Cupe sprang to my
mind ; I looked across the room to the girls. Susie
was not in her place. Then it was that I first chanced
to observe the whispering group with heads close pressed
together, and as the moments passed I sat silently eyeing
them, studying their movements, and at last I concerned
myself enough to wonder what could have occurred to
create such subdued excitement In their ranks.
The door opened, and Susie tripped into the room.
I watched her as she passed down the open space before
the door, across and past the spot where once the teacher
had marked two circles on the floor for Red-Head and
me to stand in, until she reached a group of girls who,
on opposing seats, sat with heads together, leaning across
the aisles. These girls shrank back, gazing intently into
her face as she drew near, but made no offer to return
the pleasant greeting. A cold stare was their response,
and beneath it the smile on Susie's face disappeared.
She was only a child, but no words were necessary to
tell to her the story carried by those unfeeling eyes and
shrinking forms. She passed along with downcast face,
her satchel of books hanging upon her arm. From the
cheek toward me the blood had fled, leaving a surface
white as dough ; I saw those roses fade as I have some-
times seen a beautifully tinted evening cloud deaden and
turn to leaden hue. Down the aisle toward her own
desk passed the child while on either side, peering at her
as girls who have the devil in their hearts only can, sat
those Stringtown girls. But Susie looked neither to the
right nor to the left, although it could be seen that she
Stringtown on the Pike
felt the touch of those scornful eyes. Her deskmate,
Jennie Manley, the youngest daughter of the " upright "
Mr. Manley, sat in her place; but as Susie approached
she too drew away as though the touch of the garment
of the approaching girl might be unclean. The child
stopped short, the satchel of books slipped from her
nerveless arm and fell upon the floor. Pleadingly she
raised her clasped hands, then dropped into her seat and
imploringly turned her pallid face upon her deskmate.
Her form seemed to draw into itself as does the delicate,
shrinking, sensitive plant when touched by a rough hand.
Her words came low and tremulous, but I caught them :
" Tell me, Jennie ! tell me what it is ! "
For reply the deskmate drew back again. Then
came whispers from about ; the busy tongues of String-
town girls were loosed. Slowly the kneeling child arose,
and turned back toward the door; she did not stop to
pick up the fallen satchel ; a rosy apple touched by
her foot rolled across the floor to the rostrum, but she
heeded it not. The whispers grew louder as she passed
back along that vacated aisle, and then as she reached
the middle of the open space before the door, one tongue,
bolder and more vicious than the others, sang in sarcastic
monotone, " Only Susie, Nigger Susie, ^igg^^ Susie ! "
Had the girl been instantly petrified she could not
have stopped more suddenly. A pallor came over her
face. Her beseeching eyes wandered about from one
to another as if appealing for help from a sympathetic
soul, but no response other than a malicous stare met
her gaze, and she turned again toward the door.
The Red-Headed Boy of Nordman sprang across the
floor and threw his left arm about the shrinking girl,
who dropped her head convulsively upon his shoulder.
Raising his clenched fist, he shook it viciously at the
276
ii
Tell me, Jennie, what it is"
group of girls, and shouted : " I kin thrash the brother
ov the girl who said them words ter this un ! " Giving
them no time to reply, he continued : '' I kin thrash
any boy in school ov my size ! I 'm a bad boy from
the Kaintuck moun'ns, but I ain't bad 'nough ter be a
brother ter sech a set es you-uns ! I 'm awful mean an'
bad ! I kin knock the eyes out ov a pig an' watch et
stumble 'bout ; I kin pull the legs off ov a frog an'
watch et try ter hop ; I kin break the wings ov a bird
an' watch et flutter — them's the things I kin do!
Whatever 's bad es fun fer me ! I kin do anything
mean thet any other boy ever did, but I ain't mean er
bad 'nough ter be a brother ter sech a set es you-uns !
Bring on yer brothers, I says, bring 'em one at a time
er two at a clip, an' I '11 thrash the lot ! I 'II fight with
fist er teeth er club er stone er gun ! I 'm Nordman's
Red-Head Boy, I am — thet's what yo' calls me, an' thet's
me, an' I 'm a devilish bad un ! I 've killed my man too
up in the moun'ns, an' I '11 kill another er get shot myself."
He stood defiant, vicious, malignant. The skin on
his head began to wabble, as if making sport of his
hearers ; the ears moved back and forth again as they did
the day I faced him ; and I saw, too, that he and Susie
stood together on the spot where he and I had once
stood. But my admiration for him now supplanted mv
hatred. I sprang from my place and moved toward the
two children, holding out my hand. " Let me be with
you and Susie," I said, "we three together. Let us be
friends."
" Back," he cried, " er I '11 hit yo' ! I want no
friend in Stringtown ! I hate yo' all, I hate everbody
on earth. I hate Susie, too, 'cause she 's been born,
but I takes up fer her now not 'cause I cares fer her,
but 'cause yo' all hev thrown her down."
277
Stringtown on the Pike
" You need not hate me any longer, I am your friend
now ! " I cried.
" I '11 hit yo' ef yo' don't go back ! I ain't no friend
of yourn ef yo' air ov mine. We 'II fight et out day
after school closes."
In a very different tone he spoke now to Susie, " We
two air alone, Susie. Yo' hain't no name ter be proud
ov, an' I hain't never hed none at all. You 're ' only
Susie,' an' I 'm only Red Head. I '11 take yo' home ter
nigger Cupe, an' I'll thrash the feller what insults yo'
ever ag'in." He looked at the girls and spoke in an
earnest tone, and with language such as I could not
have expected him to use. " Girls, yo' air meaner 'n
pison an' sneakiner 'n snakes. This un hain't done yo'
no harm, an' she ain't ter blame fer the deviltry ov the
coward ov a father who desarted her. I hearn all yoah
whisperin' ; my ears kin stand up an' cotch mighty low
sounds. I know all yo' said, an' I answers all ov yo'
now. I takes back what I promised the teachah 'bout
shootin' in this school. I '11 shoot the brother ov the
first girl who even makes another whisper 'gainst this
one. Ef she ain't no brother I '11 shoot her dad, an' ef
she hain't no dad" — he stopped — "I'll take et out
ov her own hide, but I '11 not kill her. Don't fergit
what I says, fer I means et.
" Come, Susie," he continued, " we hev no use fer
this place now. Yo' an' me air alone in the world.
Yo' air Susie nobody an' I am nobody, the Red-Head."
Turning to me, he added : " Yo' wants ter shake hands,
but we two don't shake no hands till after the fight.
I '11 meet yo' in Indian Hollah where yo' said yo 'd be
the mornin' after school shets up, but thar ain't ter be
no shakin' ov hands."
Never again did either he or she enter the door of the
Stringtown school. 278
CHAPTER XLVI
" STRANGE SENSATION THAT, THE BEGINNING OF LOVE "
THE morning after the close of school found me
alone, on my way to the appointed spot. Spring
had opened, the blue-grass was tall in the fence corners,
the corn in the field had been thinned and ploughed
for the first time, the apple bloom had long since fallen,
and the approach of summer had been heralded by sev-
eral hot days that had successively grown hotter. I
"stopped in the back yard of our home before crossing
the fence that bounded the pasture, and climbed a pole
that held aloft a box in which a pair of bluebirds nested.
Inside it were two little ones. I took them carefully
out of their nest, looked into their ugly open mouths
and replaced them not less carefully. Then I descended
and moved slowly onward, for I was ahead of time.
Next I lingered on the edge of the pond that had
been made by damming the ravine that crossed the back
pasture. Muskrat holes were in abundance along the
bank, and as I stood quietly, a head rose in the water
near my feet, then disappeared as the timid creature
caught sight of my intruding form.
War was in my heart, but not war against the inno-
cent. More than one rabbit hopped from cover and
disappeared in the bushes as my foot crossed the briar
patch beyond the pasture, but no stone followed. From
the tip of a fence post on the right a male partridge
279
Stringtown on the Pike
sang " Bob White ! " to his nesting mate hidden near by
in the grass, and from the fence on my left came the
answering cry of another partridge. Both birds were
singing undisturbed when I passed from sight. Instinct,
I suppose, led me to thrust a long pole into a hollow log
in the thick woods that lay just beyond the briar patch,
and to my surprise out came a snarling fuzzy opossum
that when touched gently by the stick turned on its
side, coiled itself into a ball, closed its eyes, raised its
lips and laughed silently. I moved onward, leaving the
grinning beast unharmed. Through these woods and
then over the hill I passed, into the meadow, over the
next ridge and down its side into Indian Hollow. As I
turned the top of the last ridge I caught sight of a dis-
tant form, that of a boy about my own size, who,
mounting the opposing ridge, directed his steps down
the slope toward the point I was approaching. It was
Red-Head, my expected antagonist, who true to his
agreement, met me in the ravine where tradition said
rested the dead Indians. Not a word did either of us
say as we slowly neared each other ; there was no
necessity for words, we knew our errand. I wore a
roundabout jacket, which, just before we met, I jerked
off and threw upon the ground. But he, the vicious
boy of recent days, folded his arms across his chest,
lifted his head and made no aggressive movement. I
raised my fists and prepared for the tussle, but instead
of a like movement, he said : " Hit me in the face ; hit
me hard ! "
Nor did he yet make any offensive motion, neither did
he offer to protect himself. " Hit me, I says ! Take
thet club ! " (he pointed to a heavy stick.) " Beat me
on the head ! "
I gazed at him in amazement, but made no movement.
280
The Beginning of Love
I was so near that as he spoke I felt his warm breath in
my face.
" I 'm a fool an' yo're afeard ! " he said. " Ef yo'
war in my place an' me in yourn I 'd beat yo' down
befoah a mi nit passed. I tell yo' I want ter be beat in
the face, I want ter be knocked down, an' yo're afeard
ter do et."
" I did n't come here to beat a boy with folded arms ;
I came to fight."
" Yo' can't fight me. Not because I don't want ter
fight, fer I do, but because I 've been a fool."
" Why ? "
" I promised not ter fight yo', but I did n't promise
not ter show yo' thet I 'm not afeard of bein' hurt. I '11
not strike back, but I dare yo' ter beat my head with the
club. I wants ter git paid fer bein' a fool. I '11 not
flinch. Hit me, I say."
" I shall not do it. Who made you promise not to
fight me ? "
His eyes snapped. " Nobody made me, I don't allow
no one ter make me do nuthin'. I jest promised not ter
fight yo', an' I '11 do what I promised."
" Whom did you promise ? "
" Susie."
He stood before me with folded arms, this wild moun-
tain boy, my mortal enemy. "Susie begged me not ter
fight yo', an' I promised. I 'm a fool, but not a
coward."
" Why did she beg this of you ? "
" I don't know an' I don't care. She says thet I
did n't do yo' fair when yo' offered ter stand by me in
school. She 's a girl, an' she cried when I told her thet
I intended ter thrash yo' ter-day, an' I promised not ter
do et i but I hate yo' like sin, an' yo' hate me, an' I
281
Stringtown on the Pike
know et. We '11 come tergether some day, yo' an'
me.
" You need n't talk so sure about whipping me," I
replied. " You would have had to work before you
thrashed me. I don't thank Susie for interfering any
more than you do," I continued, " but if you can't fight
me now I '11 not hit you now." He made a grimace at
me and turned to depart. Disdain was in his eye,
hatred was in his heart, but the wild beast had found his
master in a little girl.
I stood until he had passed over the hill ; not once
did he glance back ; then as his head disappeared
beneath its summit I sank upon the grass. A double
sensation came over me; regret that the boy had met
Susie was commingled with elation in the thought that
she had endeavoured to prevent him from hurting me.
Why should I have experienced either sensation ? But
I did, and my mental argument was carried further.
" Might not I have hurt him f " came next in the
thought line ; " and might not her care have been for
him P "
Strange sensation that, the beginning of love ! I had
previously thought of the girl as I would of any other
person ; until now, only as I would of any other child ;
but when my antagonist told me of her care for one of
us two, and said that she extracted from him the promise
not to fight, I hated him the more for that fact. I
hated him now, strangely enough, because of Susie —
the girl I had not seen for weeks, never in my life had
tried to meet, and who had not even entered my thoughts
since last we met.
It seems almost like romance to say that love, such as
sprang into my heart when my antagonist named that
girl, could have had place in the soul of a child of my
282
The Beginning of Love
age. When I came down that hillside to fight my an-
tagonist I had no thought of love other than for my
mother, and he whom I sought was but an enemy.
When I passed back again along that same grassy slope
he was not only an enemy but a rival, and I realised
that I was in love with the outcast girl of Stringtown.
283
CHAPTER XLVII
THE VOICE OF THE NIGHT
THE war was long since over, peace had come to all
the land. No armed men tramped our pike.
The Blue and Grey had joined hands never to unclasp
them.
Persistently since Mose the Jew gave us that money
had I begged to be permitted to leave the Stringtown
school, but my mother shrank from the parting; and so I
returned time and again to my accustomed place in the
front row among the little boys.
But finally a marvellous change came upon me, and,
no longer a dumb child, I moved toward the advanced
class of Stringtown. Possibly my previous dullness re-
sulted from lack of expressive power, how else can one
account for the sudden awakening of my intellect ? Can
brain cells store up impressions that lie temporarily be-
yond the will, but which are destined some day to open
and become in an instant a fountain of stored knowledge ?
Be this as it may, my mind opened to books, and lessons
of the past came vividly before me. In one year I
caught up with my old classmates in most studies, but
never in all, for those twenty-six rules in Brown's gram-
mar stood unlearned yet to shame me. My unexpected
progress excited the admiration of the old professor, and
at last he asked my mother to permit me to seek an
education in the North.
284
The \''oice of the Night
When, therefore, my mother finally agreed. Professor
Drake arranged for me to enter a preparatory institution
in one of the Northern States ; and finally I left String-
town, a passenger on the old stage-coach. Securely
pinned in an inner pocket of my shirt rested the amount
of money necessary for tuition, board and incidental
school expenses, and in another pocket-book, an old
timer that as a boy I had usually carried empty except-
ing a few reference cards and clippings of newspapers,
was enough money to pay for my railroad ticket and my
meals. Ignorant of the ways of the world, I started out
in the world for an education, not schooling alone ; for
while education consists partly in book lore, it more
largely comprehends wisdom gained outside of books.
Astute old Professor Drake ! Well did he recognise
this fact. None knew better than he that so far as book
study was concerned his Stringtown school offered ad-
vantages sufficient to carry me several years further —
yes, perhaps to the door of the University.
I remember now that he once told mother in my
presence that a boy should rub against others and become
self-reliant ; that he should conquer homesickness and
learn to stand alone in the world, and that it is best, if
he be possessed of good habits and strength of character,
that he should experience these things before he becomes
a man. " A child may retrieve himself in case he makes
an error ; a wise child is benefitted and profits by mis-
takes. Give a boy a chance to use his mind, and then,
if he errs, as he will, encourage him to correct the error
and profit by the lesson."
Prof. Drake had been entrusted with the secret of our
new-found wealth, and he it was who spread the infor-
mation concerning my prospective school plans, adroitly
adding that an unknown friend contributed the scholar-
285
Stringtown on the Pike
ship. Evidently he foresaw that busy neighbors would
question aloud as to how the Widow Drew could afford
to spend money enough to educate her son abroad ; and
in order to quiet those " busybodies " he had assumed
the " responsibility of the occasion."
But before I tell of things that occurred after I left
Stringtown that autumn, in my round-about jacket, my
long, baggy trousers, my dress that from shoe to cap
pictured the crude country boy, it is my duty to relate
the incidents that occurred the day before I left my home.
That day I bade all my friends in Stringtown farewell.
Never since has parting from friend or home been to me
so full of pathos.
" Sammy," said the grocer as he thrust into my
pocket a present, that was already tied neatly, thus
showing that he had thought of my departure, " don't
forget Stringtown." And then he squeezed my hand
until the fingers ached. As though I could ever forget
my old home !
Venerable Judge Elford held me long by the hand,
looking me full in the face. " Child, it has been many
years since my boy Charley went from our village to a
college in Ohio ; he was about your age when he left
Stringtown." Then his voice trembled, and he said no
more. I knew the story of his boy ; there was no need
for him to tell it.
Nearing the home of Mr. Nordman, the old gentle-
man on the pike south of Stringtown, I first caught
sight of a boy on the fence by the side of the front
gate. It was Red-Head. I drew near, he gazed in-
tently up the pike, toward the south, and gave me no
recognition. I opened the gate and closed it. I could
have touched him had I cared to do so, but neither of
us gave the other the greeting of a glance.
286
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The Voice of the Night
« And so you start North to-morrow ? " said Mr.
Nordman.
« Yes."
" My hat, child j come with me." I handed it to
him, and together we walked through the house and
down the back walk, back to the graveyard where stood
a single shaft. " You're going North, my boy, and
you'll hear hard words about your Southern friends.
Say nothing back ; they of the North do not know us
of the South ; say no hard word back. We're whipped,
Sammy, but we were men. My own dear boy, who
loved the North, rests on yon side of that shaft. He
to whom the South was dear sleeps on the other side.
God grows the grass alike over each ; the snowdrops
bloom no earlier ; the roses' scent is no sweeter, over
the one than over the other. The wah is over, child."
The village clerk, Mr. Wagner, drew me down by
his side as he seated himself on a bench. Alas ! his
chair was long since whittled into bits. " Have you
told us all good-bye, Sammy ? " he asked.
« Not all, yet."
He looked down a moment and whittled the stick he
held in his hand. " Sammy," he said, " I have made
one mistake in life, an honest man can make none
greater. You will soon be old enough to know that to
be happy you must be contented."
I looked at him curiously, for the expression was a
conundrum, while he whittled again ; then he stroked
my chin gently with his lank forefinger, and next with
the tips of his thumb and finger, he twitched a film of
down that had appeared on my upper lip ; then he
continued :
" An old bachelor is not contented, Sammy. He's a
misfit, and deserves the pity of mankind, and if he's
287
Stringtown on the Pike
honest he won't deny it. It don't make any difference
how he dresses, what he eats or drinks, he's only a
human fragment, and if he don't say it openly he knows
that it's true. Be a man, Sammy, and when you fall in
love, as you will, tell your sweetheart you love her ;
then, when you are able to support her, marry her and
live contentedly and respectably." The lank clerk
heaved a deep sigh, but I made no answer. We parted
and that sigh sounds yet in my ears when I think of
Mr. Wagner.
So I went from end to end of Stringtown, bidding
one and another farewell, getting blessings and advice —
curious forms of advice and strange blessings.
288
CHAPTER XLVIII
THE WEIRD FORM AGAINST THE SKY
THE years passed, and finally a well-formed and
well-informed young man, I came home on top
of the same old bus, driven by the same driver. Now
I was ready to start out into the world to make a living,
and I will add that a position had been offered me in a
college well-known throughout our land, the position of
assistant to the professor of chemistry.
The bus was late the afternoon I came home for the
last time from school. The driver called me mister now
and spoke in a formal manner that I did not like. For
the first time I appreciated that I was no longer the
Sammy Drew of former years. In deference to my
request, he checked his team before my mother's door,
where I alighted ; before that time I should not have
presumed to ask that favour, nor would he have granted
it to little Sammy Drew.
I experienced a strange sensation that afternoon, for
it seemed as though Stringtown no longer possessed me
as a part of herself. I felt like a visitor. The houses,
too, were surely very much smaller than when first I
knew them ; the pavements more narrow, the flat stones
of the walks were uneven and very rough ; strange that
I had never before observed this last fact. A group of
boys looked up at me as I passed ; without a word of
recognition they resumed their marble playing. I then
felt a mental depression ; for on that very spot but a
19 289
Stringtown on the Pike
few years before, playing marbles, I kneeled in the dirt,
a boy of Stringtown known to every other boy and
knowing every boy. Again my heart sank, and yet
again and again, as recurring incidents or new objects
thrust upon me the fact that four years of absence may
produce great changes in a village if the absent one was
once really a part of the village. Only the person who
looks with a stranger's eye will say that change comes
not to human homes and human hearts in a sleepy vil-
lage that seems to the indifferent observer to stand
unchanged as decade after decade passes. Stringtown
was no longer Stringtown to me, neither was I now a
part of Stringtown's people. " Mr. Drew " and " Sam-
uel " fell on my ears and grated on them, but there were
a few exceptions ; to some persons I was still Sammy.
The man who first used that familiar term was Judge
Elford. He took me by the hand and looked me in the
face. " Sammy," he said, "you did not get into trouble
and did not send for me, as I feared you might and
asked you to do in case you needed me ; you have my
admiration. A splendid record you have made, but the
end is not in sight ; you may yet require my advice.
Remember, Sammy, you promised to follow it when the
time arrives."
I wandered into the pasture the next evening to watch
the sun go down. First, the contact part of a cloud
bank toward which I walked was tinted with a silver
sheen, then as his form passed down behind the black
body a ribbon of silver formed upon the undulating
upper edge, a narrow border that from the earth on
either side where cloud met horizon followed in veriest
detail its uplifted undulations until the edge was all aglow
in silver. The shadows fell about me as I still walked
toward the cloud, following a path that led into the west.
290
The Weird Form against the Sky
The ribbon of changing colours faded out, and a strange,
gloomy twilight seemed to fall upon me, although I
knew that the sun had not yet touched the horizon and
that the darkness was premature. Then deep down in
the cloud, from a slender crevice that formed on the
instant, a silver ray burst forth and, lighting up a spot of
earth, illumined a motionless female form, before unseen,
a form that in the sunburst I saw was that of Susie ; but
no longer a child, for the fleeting years had brushed the
child away.
And then the ray of sunshine lifted, swept gracefully
across the heavens as does a mighty searchlight, and
glancing fell agam to the earth, striking now the hill
before me ; but between the two earth touches the sil-
ver changed to red, and with the crimson came tinted
shadows that played about the spot where rested now
the red sun ray. But to these I gave no further notice ;
for from where I stood in the valley I saw uprise upon
the summit of the hill a form that seemed more than
twice human height. But a moment shone the red glare,
for night settled quickly down, leaving only the outline
of that form against the uprising cloud bank. Then
curious movements possessed the sky picture , the erect
form changed to that of a bent figure ; the hands and
arms moved strangely out and in, and at one time, with
outstretched arm leaned forward, pointing into the valley
beyond, where lay the Stringtown graveyard. Nor was
that form alone, for an object heretofore unseen sped
from near him and flitted along the path. But as it did
so the upright figure uttered a cry, shrill, wild, like that
of a savage. As the cry struck the air, the small crea-
ture scampered back affrighted and clasped his little arms
tightly about the long legs of the erect being, whatever
it might have been. Too old was I now to fear goblin
291
Stringtown on the Pike
or ghost, too skeptical had I become to believe in spook
of any kind, else I should have turned and fled from the
spot J for it seemed as though that picture against the
sky could not be natural. Then while yet I gazed the
form suddenly fell to the ground and disappeared from
sight ; and as it did so a wild cry floated to my ear, fol-
lowed by a laugh that might have been human, but which
seemed not like any other laugh my ear had ever heard.
Then came silence.
Instead of turning back, as once I should have done,
I started forward, following the path in the meadow
toward the summit of the hill ; but when I neared the
spot where once had stood the apparition nothing could
be seen. Too dark was it now to distinguish objects. I
lingered a moment and then strode on, when my foot
struck a soft obstacle in the path. I stooped and reached
down. My hands surely touched the form of a child —
my fingers followed the bare legs and feet, then passed
over the face of a child. Raising the little form in my
arms, I moved to the right, toward the spot where on
the hill I had seen the girl standing in the silver light.
292
CHAPTER XLIX
SUSIE, RED-HEAD, AND SAMUEL DREW
AGAIN in the night I stood before the cabin of
Cupe, where I hesitated a moment before the
door. I dreaded to meet the superstitious old negro.
The experience of that first night, when, a child, I ran
terrified into the open door, the incident that occurred
during the second nocturnal visit, when the strange night
voice spoke twice in my ear, coupled with the cold re-
ception that he gave me then, led me to hesitate before
again entering that abode. And then I remembered
that he had predicted my coming thrice in the night, and
I had vowed that I would not do so. I felt now an an-
tagonism toward him not only on account of his having
involved me in his superstitions, but also because his
predictions had been partly verified. For the third time,
notwithstanding my assertion never to do so again, I
stepped out of the night into the cabin of Cupe, who
seemed not at all surprised at my entrance.
" Brung de gem'n a cheer, Dinah."
" Don't concern yourself about me. Uncle Cupe ; see
what can be done for this child," and I laid the boy on
the bed.
Breath was in the little form, the muscles twitched, the
limbs moved convulsively, the hands closed and opened
irresponsively. Each muscle seemed to be awaiting its
turn to contract and relax, " De chile hab be'n in pain,
suah," said Cupe. I knew nothing about how the child
293
Stringtown on the Pike
was hurt or how he came to be where I found him. To
me the mystery was as to how he could have shrunk in
size. When I saw him on the hilltop he stood lank and
tall. When I stumbled over his form in the path he
had contracted to the little boy before us. Still, these
thoughts were of secondary importance now ; the child
needed help, and I knew nothing about how to give it.
Not so Cupe, who quickly opened the waist, directing
me to rub the limbs and body with the palms of my
hands. He ordered Dinah to make a hot drink, and
from a flat bottle that he drew from some secret place he
prepared a toddy that in teaspoonful doses was slowly
poured into the mouth of the child, who automatically
swallowed it. Under the combined influence of the
stimulant, the hot tea, and the friction, the little one
opened its eyes and regained consciousness. The limbs
now ceased contracting, the twitching muscles were
quieted, and the eyes opened. Listlessly the boy lay on
the bed, rolling his eyes, then I observed Cupe's de-
portment toward myself, and contrasted therewith the
severity of his demeanour when last I came to his cabin.
Now he seemed intent on serving me; he spoke respect-
fully and with great deference ; before, he had been
domineering and insolent. " Foah yeahs hab pass',
Ma'se Samuel, an' at las' yo' hab come back t' String-
town. An' how does de ole town look t' yo' now ? "
I remembered the prediction he had made concerning
the change that time might bring in my affections for the
village, — a change that I now realised had already to an
extent occurred.
" I find many changes in Stringtown," I answered.
" An' am yo' suah de changes am not in yo'selb ? "
Then, without waiting for me to answer, he added :
" How 'bout de gearls ? Hab yo' foun' a sweetheaht in
de Norf ? " 294
Susie, Red-Head, and Samuel Drew
" I have not, Cupe. I told you that I should come
back in four years, — see — " I drew from an inner
pocket the metal case that he had handed me when, four
years since, he pushed me out of the cabin into the night.
" I carry this with me, Cupe."
Before he could reply came a knock on the door, and
without waiting to be ushered in the intruder lifted the
latch and entered.
The Red-Head Boy of Nordman, but no longer a
boy. Tall and lank, at least a head taller than myself,
he stood before us lithe and supple, red-faced and impu-
dent. I sat by the bed rubbing the forehead of the
child, who had, as yet, said not a word. But as his eyes
fell upon the face of the intruder his form shrank as if
struck by a sudden blow, and with a cry as if of pain he
threw his arm about my neck and sobbed convulsively.
Then it flashed upon me that the tall form I had seen on
the hill was that of Red-Head, and, connecting therewith
the present movements of the frightened child, I reasoned
that the intruder had been the cause of his suffering.
Indignation possessed me. Tearing the clasped arms of
the child from my neck, I thrust him upon the bed and
faced the new-comer, who stood full a head taller than
myself; but this fact gave me no concern. " And you
it is," I said, " who delight in frightening helpless
children, you who stoop your head when you enter a
door ? "
He sneered, but did not answer,
" Out of this house ! " I pointed to the door, but he
made no movement. I sprang toward him, and tried to
strike his face ; he drew his head back, stepped aside,
and I passed him by. Turning suddenly, I sprang again
at the intruder, viciously striking at him with my fist ;
he artfully evaded the blow, and, reaching out his lank
295
Stringtown on the Pike
arm, grasped one of my wrists and then the other. The
strong lad held my two wrists in one hand, and with his
ugly countenance close to my eyes, laughed in my face ;
then giving me a sudden twirl, he sent me spinning to
the farther side of the room, I was frenzied now, and
knew not what I did. That leering face and sarcastic
laugh were more exasperating than a blow of the fist
would have been. It was evident that he could have
beaten me to the floor had he cared to do so, and the
fact that I had been spared was humiliating. The devil
possessed me, and realising that I could not cope with
him fist to fist, I sought a weapon, and found it in the
form of Cupe's double-barrelled shot-gun that stood in
the corner to which he had hurled me. I grasped it,
and, with my back in the corner, raised and pointed it
toward him, when a form burst from out the door at the
back of the room. It was Susie. Had she been a sec-
ond later I would have pulled the trigger ; I shuddered
as I dropped the butt of the gun on the floor, for she
stood in the line between Red-Head and myself, and I
realised how near I had come to firing the weapon as
she stepped in the line of sight. Susie, with the eyes of
Susie of old, but not exactly the same face, and surely
not the form of the wild girl I knew four years ago. A
more matured expression of countenance, a womanly fig-
ure, had replaced the face and form of the girl, yet had
brushed away no charm or grace the girl possessed. She
stood motionless before me in the lamplight. A wild
rose had been placed in the bosom of her gown, another
graced her hair ; these, when last I knew her, she would
not have worn as she wore them now.
" The gun is loaded," she said. " Is it murder they
teach boys in Ohio ? " Abashed, I placed the weapon
back in the corner while she turned to Cupe. " Uncle
296
Susie, Red-Head, and Samuel Drew
Cupe, you must answer for this ! I '11 not have such
things done in my house ! "
" 'Deed, Missus, an' I couldn' help de boys come'n,
need'ah could I help 'em fight'n."
She turned to Red-Head.
" And you ? "
" Did n't fight. Thet feller tried ter fight, but I
would n't. He 'd hev shot me too ef yo' hed n't come.
Ask Cupe ? "
" You need not ask Cupe, ask me," I broke in. " Red-
Head tells the truth. I tried to fight and could not.
He is stronger than I am, and he knows it. I have
been poring over books, he has been running through the
fields and woods. I have been sitting before a desk, he
has been exercising his muscles all day long. I have
been developing my brain, he has been developing his
frame and body. I 'm a fool for giving him a chance to
show me that I am weak and that he is strong in brute
strength. I have acted the dunce in trying to strike
him with my fist. It must be brain against muscle
hereafter, Susie, and when brain meets muscle, brain
always wins. I assure you that I shall not fail again
when the time comes for me to strike him down. I
shall not fist fight him, though ; he can go his way, I
shall go mine."
" Then, Mr. Drew, there '11 be no fight, for he
promised me long ago not to hurt you."
" So be it, Susie."
" But de sign say dey mus' be de deff ob each uddah,"
mumbled Cupe. '- Et say dat de Red-Head Boy '11 die
sudden, an' dat yo' an Susie '11 be de cause ; an' dat
yo' 11 die sudden, an' dat de Red-Head Boy an' Susie '11
be de cause."
" Thar 'II always be two sides ter the path we meet
297
Stringtown on the Pike
on," said Red-Head, addressing me. " Yo' keep ter the
right, an' I '11 keep ter the right. Thar 's room ter look
about without looking at each other, and thar 's room ter
whistle, ef we can't keep our mouths shet when we
meets on the same path."
" So be it, but mind that you keep to the right," I
answered. He left the cabin, without a word of fare-
well to any one.
The child rested on the bed, asleep. " Susie," I said,
" I am ashamed of having fought Red-Head in your home,
but he tortured that little child near to death, and I
could not help doing it. My temper got the upper
hand of my judgment. Will you pardon me ? "
" Red-Head is wild and meant no harm, I am sure,"
she replied. " He speaks softly to me, he shows me
many kindnesses ; his face is red, his hair is red, but
through no fault of his own. He loves the country, he
loves the hills, and valleys, the woods and vines and
flowers."
"And yet he tortures children. Miss Susie." Never
before had I said Afiss to her, and as I did so now she
flushed. I saw the flush — it shaded her face until the
hue of the cheek touched that of the petals of the wild
sweet briar on her bosom.
" He is uneducated," she replied, " and needs sym-
pathy, not blows. You say that he tortured the child
— are you certain that he did ? Mind you not the day he
stood by my side in the Stringtown school and defended
me, a helpless girl ? Do you think, Mr. Samuel, that I
was not tortured then ? "
" Did I not also stand by you, did I not offer him my
hand and ask that our past enmity be forgotten, did I
not take your part then, Susie ? "
" Yes," she said, and her eyes dropped. " Yes,but — "
298
Susie, Red-Head, and Samuel Drew
« But what ? "
" You came second."
It was my turn to flush. It was true that I did go
second to her side then, seemingly I still stood second.
And then my heart thumped, for the first time I knew
how deeply I loved this girl, who argued so naturally in
behalf of my antagonist.
" Mr. Drew," she continued, " I am nobody but
Susie. I have been taught by my guardian, Mr. Wag-
ner, and Professor Drake, and expect to go to college, so
that you perceive I am not as wild as I should have
been had you not begged me to take the education ; still
I am ' Susie Nobody,' and I live in the cabin with Cupe
and Dinah. You helped me escape absolute ignorance,
and for your kindness in guiding me as you did I sin-
cerely thank you. Yes," she continued, " in behalf of
two persons do I thank you."
" Who else, Susie ? "
"Red-Head. He is not the vicious lad he would
have been had I grown up as rude as I might have
done."
I bit my lip. " Susie," I said " I hate that name ;
I wish no thanks for him, nor will I take any."
" I give them on my own account j I do not hate the
name," she answered. Then there came over me a
sudden impulse to tell her that I loved her. " Susie," I
said eagerly, " listen. There was something I wanted
to say four years ago. I did not say it then. I must
say it now. Susie, I — "
I caught her hand. She did not resist nor with-
draw it.
" Missus," broke in Cupe stepping to the girl's side,
" de young Ma'se Samuel mus' be tired ob standin' so
long. 'Scuse de ole man, but de muddah ob de chile
299
Stringtown on the Pike
on de bed '11 worry monstrous much lessen et be toted
home. Ef de young ma 'se will break ofF de conber-
sashun, Cupe '11 go 'long wid him t' Stringtown t'
tote de chile."
The interruption angered me, it was obviously inten-
tional. I recalled how twice before he had prevented
me from speaking as I had just been about to speak.
But the interruption had been made and Susie had left
me ; for she turned to the bed, where she gently stroked
the child's forehead. " Yes," she said, " Uncle Cupe
is right. The little one should be taken to its home."
In a few moments the slender form, still asleep, was
carried forth, its head resting on the shoulder of the
negro. Before leaving the cabin, however, I lingered
a second, a second longer than I would have done had
the occupant been other than Susie ; just a second
longer than I might have done had it been any other
girl did I hold her hand in mine, and as I dropped it
I asked :
*' May I come again ? "
" Why not ? " she answered. " This is Kentucky."
She took the wild sweet briar from her hair and handed
it to me.
"Thank you, Susie," I said. " May I not also have
the other ? " and I pointed to the rose in her bosom.
" That is for Red-Head — perhaps," she replied.
300
CHAPTER L
cupe's threat
CUPE was old when first I knew him, but he seemed
no older and no more decrepit now than then.
With the boy over his shoulder he took the lead that
night, asking no help, and held it until the village was
reached. He was very sullen. Every attempt on my
part to engage him in conversation resulted in utter
failure ; he would not talk. So in communion with
myself I followed at his heels.
Before reaching the place where the negro should leave
Stringtown we drew near the house of Mr. Wagner.
Although it was late, a light shining through the window
of the front room indicated that the village clerk had
not yet retired.
" Ma'se Sammy," broke in my companion, " Cupe
hab a word t' say t' Ma'se Wagnah, an '11 be obleeged ef
yo' '11 stop a minit an' heah de conbersashun."
He turned into the little yard, knocked on the door,
and together we were ushered into the room, where, as
has been related, many years before he had stood with
the heavy box of coin and the manuscript of Susie's
mother. I was invited to seat myself, and did so, but
Cupe remained standing.
" Ma'se Wagnah," he said, "yo' min' de day in de
yeah gone by when yo' come t' Cupe's cabin an' tole
him how es de Co'ht had made yo' de guardyen ob de
little Susie gearl ? "
301
Stringtown on the Pike
" Yes, Cupe, very well."
" Min' yo' de trouble de gearl yocasioned yo', an' dat
de jedge say she could stay wid Cupe till de time come
fo' her t' lebe der cabin ob her brack fren's ? "
" Yes."
" She wah es full ob fun an' sunshine es a bee tree es
ob honey, an' she keered nuffin 'bout no one but de ole
brack fo'ks. She hab be'n like honey ebah sense. She
wah a spritely gearl, Ma'se Wagnah, a little ting, but
now she stan' tall an' supple."
" Go on, Cupe."
" When de little gearl use t' sing, et wah loud like de
fiel' lark, an' when she dance', et wah keerless like wid
her gahments. But now she doan dance no moah befo'
de cabin doah, an' when she sing, et am sof an' hum-
min', like de tu'tle dove."
Again he stopped. " Go on," said Mr. Wagner.
" An' when de pert chile use t' gaddah de flowahs in
de spring, she bunch 'em in her han' an' den put 'em in
a glass ob watah on de table ; but now she doan bunch
de flowahs no moah, she jes pick one er two wil' roses
an' stick 'em in her ha'r er in her busum. Et am a
monstrous change, Ma'se Wagnah." Now his voice
sunk very low. " An' when de boys roam obah de
Ian' dey use t' hunt in de woods an' skate an' swim in
de pond an' drink out ob de spring down by de milk
house. But now dey go by de spring t' stop monstrous
ofFen at de cabin fo' a cup t' git a drink ob watah, er t'
ax some fool quistion what doan mean nuffin, er t' act
up one way er 'nuddah." He looked at me. " Mon-
strous little uxcuse et takes t' bring 'em t' de cabin now.
Two ob em come t'-night, an' Susie she lingah in her
room t' fix up befo' she come out."
" Well, Cupe, what must I do ? "
302
Cupe's Threat
" Et 's time de gearl lef' de cabin ; Lawd knows dat
Cupe an' Dinah lubs her moah 'n all de worl', but de
gearl's place now es wid de white fo'ks. Take her
back, Ma'se Wagnah ; fo' de good ob de honey chile,
take her back ! "
" I understand, Cupe. You feel that she has grown
beyond your care."
" Et makes de nigger sad t' say et."
" I '11 see Judge Elford and arrange at once for her
future. She is a bright girl and should go away to
school."
" Min' yo' de readin' ob de papah her muddah wrote ? "
" Yes."
" She doan wan' t' go t' school, ner t' go t' any home
t' live outen she hab de name she 'titled to."
" That paper carries no evidence that the Court could
use to give her the name of her father."
" An' mus' she be ' Nigger Susie ' always ? "
" She will be only Susie until she marries."
" Yo' know, Ma'se Wagnah, dat ole Ma'se Manley,
who die so sudden, wah her fahdah. Yo' know he libed
a monstrous good life heah es fo'ks b'lebed, but de kin'-
heahted man died s'prisin' sudden. Had he lived longah,
he might hab give' de chile de name she 's 'titled to.
Et's a pity he died so early."
Mr. Wagner shook his head.
" Ef Susie caint hab her name, de name ob de Man-
ley gearls shall stan' disgrace'," said the earnest negro.
" Ef de debbil es t' foller de deah chile, he '11 stick
his fingahs into de ha'r ob de uddah gearls too. Ef yo'
caint gib Susie her name, Cupe '11 brung shame t' dem."
" Beware, Cupe ! " said the now disturbed man.
" You intend to do right, but will surely accomplish
mischief."
303
Stringtown on the Pike
"When Cupe went t' Canerdy, he went by de town
what de writin' ob Susie's muddah tole 'bout. He stop
t' see de man ole Aunt Sukey knowed, Aunt Sukey who
saw Ma'se Manley wid de muddah ob Susie, Cupe
paid de lawyers fo' gittin' all de fac's, he hab de swohn
papahs, he hab de ev'dence ob de New Yo'k Co'ht es t'
Ma'se Manley. Cupe doan mean no mischief, but ef
de Susie chile caint git her name, he '11 raise de debbil
wid de name ob Manley." He turned to the door, but
before going delivered this parting shot : " De New
Yo'k jedge said dat in New Yo'k ef a man libed wid a
woman in open es ef dey wah married, dey am married.
De lawyer's common marriage, he called et. Dat ef a
chile wah bohn t' dem, et wah his chile an' titled t' his
name an' his money too. Dat de deed wah fact ef de
proof ob de deed wah suah. An' Cupe hab all de proof
in brack writin', even t' de swarin' ob Aunt Sukey an'
ob de New Yo'k jedge. Ef Ma'se Manley hab any
chile 'titled t' his name, et am Susie"
" For God's sake, keep your mouth shut, Cupe ! I
shall consult Judge Elford at once about this matter."
" Bettah yo' let no grass grow undah yoah feet, Ma'se
Wagnah, fo' Cupe am gittin' monstrous ole, an' doan
'tend t' die an' lebe de gearl widout de name she 's
'titled to."
" Mr. Wagner," I said, " this is all strange to me. I
catch part of Cupe's meaning, but much of it is obscure.
Still, I take it that Mr. Manley, who died by a paralytic
stroke, was the father of Susie."
" Yes, she is his child. He was followed to Ken-
tucky by the girl's mother, who left the baby in charge
of Cupe's master, Mr. Hardman, the half-brother of Mr.
Manley. Do not, however, speak of the fact you have
learned, the secret is to be well kept if Susie is to be
304
Cupe's Threat
protected. A simple statement of fact cannot serve her
interests, while it can bring sorrow and shame to many
others."
" Mr. Wagner, when I left Stringtown to go to school
you gave me some advice. You told me that when I
found the girl I loved, I should tell her so. I am now
of age and in a fair way to make a living. 1 love Susie
with all my heart. I cast no blame on her for the shame
her father wrought. Upon the contrary, I now despise
the name of the man who wronged her, and 1 love her
none the less. I am willing to share my name if she
will accept it. Give her a good education, I beg of
you, do your duty as her guardian, and look to me to
furnish the name she needs. That is — " I hesitated.
"What?"
" If she will share it."
" Cupe knows," I added, and turned to address the
old man, but he had silently slipped away ; only Mr.
Wagner and myself were present. The negro had
gone from the room either before or after my declara-
tion was made, I knew not which. He had left us with
the expressed threat to " raise the devil with the name of
Manley."
305
CHAPTER LI
THE MAGIC MIRROR
SLEEP did not readily come to my eyes that night,
and the snatches of slumber brought little rest.
Distressing dreams that seemed to be joined to not less
painful periods of waking possessed me. When morn-
ing broke I arose fatigued and with swollen eyes. My
mother perceived that something weighed upon my
mind, and suggested that I might not be well ; but I
passed the matter lightly. Although painful dreams
came to me all that night, I remembered but one in-
cident, wherein occurred a question : " What is the
object of life ? "
Memory of the scenes of the previous evening and
the threat of Cupe concerning the Manleys disturbed
me. I feared that he might carry his threat into im-
mediate execution, and I will add that I now felt not
only a personal concern, but a legitimate right to inter-
fere. With this thought in mind, I started for his cabin
without any well-formulated plan of action. But it was
not to meet Susie that I went this time to the home of
the dead Corn Bug. I intended to talk with the old
negro, and for the once I hoped to find the girl absent.
My object being to discover something further con-
cerning the past life of his charge and to tell Cupe
that by reason of my conference with Mr. Wagner, her
guardian, I had, to a degree, assumed a personal respon-
sibility concerning her future. I will admit, also, that
306
The Magic Mirror
I was ao-grieved over the manner in which the old slave
DO
had treated me on the two occasions in which I had
been prevented from telling the girl that my thought
was for her, and I now proposed not only to inform him
of my intention, but to give him to understand that I
should submit to no further impertinence in this direc-
tion. " Neither has the old fool," I said to myself, " a
right longer to thrust on me his negro superstitions ! "
As I reflected in detail over the manner in which he
had played upon my childish credulity, and had even
made me take part in his incantations, I felt both indig-
nant and humiliated. " I '11 have no more of it," I
said, and in this mood reached the cabin. No signs of
life were to be seen about the place, no dog curled before
the step, no Dinah, Cupe nor Susie. I knocked on the
door, and imagined that I heard a sound within, but
the door remained closed and no voice bade me enter.
Then I stepped to the window ; it was close curtained.
I walked around the dwelling, to find that with one
exception the other windows were also draped. The
exception was the room in the new addition to the
cabin, the room of Susie, but that, too, was unoccupied
and the door leading from it into the cabin was closed.
A moment I stood there studying with my eyes the
scene within. Simple, indeed, were the home surround-
ings of this girl, and yet in good taste. A picture cut
from a magazine, a home-made ornament worked by
girlish hands, a few knick-knacks, such as she might
cherish, and an assortment of books that astonished me.
History, science, art, literature ! I knew the works,
some of them, others as yet I had not seen. Admiration
for the girl had previously possessed me, now I knew
that it had not been misplaced.
This was all I saw — with one exception — that of
307
Stringtown on the Pike
the pencil drawing of a young man — my own face
surely — conspicuous in a rustic frame on the little
dresser near the window. Evidently the sketch was by
Susie; and slipped into the frame was a rose, a dried
wild rose. As I pressed my face to the glass of the
little window of the room a sense of shame came over
me ; my action unmanly. " Forgive me, Susie," I said
to myself, " I 'm a churl, a sneak ! " and in this mood I
passed back to the front door.
I was convinced that the home could not be deserted,
for seldom, if ever, did all the occupants of a negro
cabin leave the premises unguarded, and I questioned
then as to whether from a distance I had not been
observed ; and naturally I inferred that my unbidden
company was distasteful, and that Cupe had taken this
means to teach me that my visits were not to be con-
tinued. " The impertinent old fanatic," I thought ;
" to what end may he not carry his superstitions, born
of ignorance and bred in arrogance ? " I raised an axe
handle that stood beside the doorway and beat the heavy
oak door as though to splinter it. I made the old house
ring, for with each blow I grew angrier and thought
meaner things, I who had no right to even question the
reason of the action of any occupant of that home.
Then, as I rested, the door opened and Cupe stood
before me. No smirk on his countenance now, no
welcome smile, no courtesy and bow.
" Yo' Stringtown boy from de Norf, ain't dah room
nuff outside fo' yo' t' walk ? " Then without waiting
a reply, he added : " De Susie gearl's not in de cabin."
He closed the door in my face.
Never before had I known an old-time negro to do
such an act as this ; hospitality was born and cultivated
in the hearts of the old Southern home slave, and for
308
The Magic Mirror
Cupe to behave in this manner was unpardonable. I
raised the axe handle, and with both hands grasping the
shaft, struck such a vicious blow on the door as to
benumb my fingers and jar the stick from my grasp.
The door, strong as it was, could stand few such attacks
as that, and I presume Cupe reaHsed the fact, for once
more he threw it open, stepped to one side and awaited
my entrance. I lost no time in accepting the opportun-
ity ; the negro closed the door immediately, and I ob-
served that he bolted it too, for I heard the draw of the
iron bar. I heard it, I say, for although the sun was
shining brightly outside there was no ray of light within.
Absolute darkness prevailed.
" I tole yo' de Susie gearl am not t' home."
" I came to talk to ^yoz/," I answered, coolly, " not to
see Susie."
" De time am not 'pitious an' de mannah ob de
come'n am not perlite. Doan yo' see de doah am
slow t' open ? De sign am bad, I tole yo'."
*' Shut up about your signs and incantations. Never
let me hear you mention them again. I wish no more
of them."
*' An' ef yo' wish no moah, why doan yo' keep 'way.
Hab Cupe ebah gone t' hunt yo' up an' shove 'em down
yoah froat ? Doan yo' always come t' Cupe, an' doan
yo' start de spell ? De twine ob de spell am tangled
'bout de feet ob Cupe an' Dinah and Red-Head an' Susie
an' yo'selb. An' yo' am de one who did de act ob de
tangle. But Cupe would n't care ef de sweet gearl wah
free ; de sign twine might be 'bout de necks ob yo' two
boys. Did n't yo' start de spell, I axes ? "
I felt the justice of the rebuke, but was determined to
have my say. " I 'm tired of all this foolishness."
" De doah am b'hin' yo', an' de way am cleah t' de
^ 309
Stringtown on the Pike
sunshine ; shall Cupe open et an' let yo' out ? Yo' hain't
got no invite t' stay."
" I tell you I came to talk with you.''''
Then I felt an object touch my knees. " Take de
cheer an' do yoah talkin' moah comf'ble."
I sought the back of the chair with my hand, found it
and seated myself. " Cupe, why don't you light up
your room ? raise the curtain."
" Yo' come t' talk 'bout fool signs, Cupe hab de con-
bersashun in him eah ; go on wid de talk, fo' de eah
doan need no light."
I felt somewhat disturbed. The absence of the
women, the mysterious movements of the negro, his
well-known fanaticism and his methods were not calcu-
lated to enliven me ; besides, this absolute darkness,
when it should have been light, was depressing.
'' Cupe, since I came to this cabin as a child I have
been imposed upon more than once by your superstitions.
You led me to expect to fight Red-Head, and the men-
tal impression you made on my young mind induced me
to hate him. I presume that you accomplished the
same end with Red-Head. You led the unsuspecting
girl Susie to look forward to trouble that was coming
between us two boys, and she, too, became involved in
your silly signs. You must stop this nonsense now."
" An' yo' doan b'lebe in de sign \ "
" No."
" When de chicken cock crow at midnight, am et a
sign dat mahn'n '11 come .? "
" No."
" Do yo' ebah know a mahn'n not t' come ahftah de
crowin' ob de chicken ? "
"You old fool."
" Yo' say yo' doan b'lebe in signs ? "
310
The Magic Mirror
" No."
" Yo' b'lebe in de alm'nac ? "
" Yes."
'' De 'clipses, de da'k an' de light ob de moon,
'cordin' t' de alm'nac, am right ? "
" Yes ; they are predicted by calculation."
"Yo' b'lebe what yo' see written in de alm'nac
book ? "
« Yes."
" Cupe '11 ask yo' t' read a page fo' t' let him see ef
de Susie gearl kin read es apt es she might."
He lighted a candle, and took from near the fireplace
a Farmers' and Mechanics' Almanac; clumsily fingering
the pages, he thrust the open book before my face.
" Read de wo'ds ob de alm'nac an' tole me what de
gem'n what write et say. He am not bery p'lite in de
pictah, an' he seems t' be pow'ful much hurt jes below
de ribs." I glanced at the page and over the well-
known illustration read, " Signs of the Zodiac."
Cupe chuckled, " An' yoah book ob fac's am a
sign book. Bettah yo' say nuffin moah 'bout Cupe.
De book say de moon '11 change, an' suah de sign yo'
read in de book am good, fo' de moon do change. Et
say de 'clipses '11 come, an' de sign am good, fo' dey do
come. What yo' see in de book am good, an' Cupe
sahtify t' de fac', but what Cupe kin see wid his eyes an'
heah wid his eahs am jes es good es alm'nac signs."
Suddenly changing the subject of the discussion, he
asked :
" Doan yo' meet de Red-Head Boy es Cupe p'dicted \ "
"Yes."
" Doan yo' two boys fight ? "
"Yes."
" Doan de Susie gearl come betwixt yo' ? '*
311
Stringtown on the Pike
« Yes, but — "
But without heeding me the negro added : " An'
did n't Cupe p'dict de come'n ob dem all ? "
" You guessed some things, I will admit."
" An' so does de alm'nac book guess some tings.
But Cupe doan guess. He sees 'em all, he knows
moah'n he tells, an' he kin tell moah 'bout yo' dan yo'
tells too."
" Tell me something I know that has happened and
not been told."
'' Yo' stood in de city by de stone wall wid de carpet-
bag at yoah feet an' met de long-haired man. Yo' went
wid him t' de play-house. Yo' los' yoah money, an'
den yo' go an' stan' on de bridge lookin' down in de
watah, an' yo' come monstrous neah jurnyin' down into
de ribbah. But yo' could n't jump, fo' de end ob de
spell wah not den. Yo' did n't tole no man 'bout de
'sperience yo' meet in de big city, an' yo' doan 'tend t'
tole no man, ner yo' doan wan' Cupe t' tole no man."
" You old devil," I said indignantly, " how did you
find out these things ? "
" I read 'em in de glass, I see 'em wid my eyes, I
heah de conbersashun wid my eahs es easy es I talk t'
yo' now. Yo' look in de alm'nac book fo' de sign, an'
yo' doan git much but moon an' 'clipses. Cupe see de
movin' ob de past an' de come'n ob de future, an' yo'
call dem fool signs. He wah readin' de future when yo'
knock so loud on de doah."
" You 're an old liar, Cupe. Some man told you
these things about me."
" An' yo' wan' t' see wid yoah eyes ? "
" I dare you to show me the things you claim to see."
" Memberlec' dat Cupe doan ax yo' on. Yo' am de
feller what ax de quistion."
312
The Magic Mirror
'' I dare you to show me the manner in which you
read the sign."
" Dah am moah 'n one way, but one 's nuff fo' yo'.
Sit still an' doan move, yo' sign chile, sit still, an' yo '11
see de passin' ob de past an' de come'n ob de nex'
spell."
He lighted a candle and from some unseen receptacle
produced a black object like a mirror, about twelve inches
in length and nine inches in diameter. It was concave,
and black as pitch. This he placed in my hands, ex-
plaining that I must look into its concave surface. As
my fingers touched the curious object, everj/^ point of
which was black as asphaltum, a curious sensation ran
over my body, a strange tremble that seemed to be car-
ried into my frame from out my finger-tips. The dim
glimmer of the candle, that lighted the room but little,
and the thing I touched but could see not at all, the
solemn voice of the negro, the air of mystery with
which he moved and spoke, following the remarkable
manner in which he had outlined the experiences I met
in Cincinnati, and that I supposed were locked securely
in my own breast, unnerved me and my hands trembled.
"What is this thing, and where did you get it?" I
asked.
" Et am de sign-glass, an' I got et from de man who
doan make no alm'nacs. Cupe hab trabelled Norf, an'
hab trabelled Souf, an' hab sot monstrous close t' men
who hab be'n out in de night an' in de sunshine wha'
de summer am all de yeah long. Yo '11 see moah in dat
glass dan yo' ebah read in any book, an' when yo' git
fru, yo '11 not hab t' ax Cupe t' tole yo' de nex' news
what 's come'n, an' yo' won't be consahned in wha' Cupe
got de glass need'h. Look down an' read — read de
glass."
Stringtown on the Pike
I lowered my eyes, and as I did so the negro blew out
the flame of the candle ; again I was in absolute dark-
ness, gazing at or toward an object in itself black even
in daylight. " Cupe, this is nonsense ; light up the
candle, open the door ! " I said. But still I gazed into
the mirror's depths, for strange movements began to play
in the air near where I felt the surface of the thing should
be, and then an uncouth object shot from out one side of
the mirror and assumed the shape of an ugly human face.
" Look in de sign-glass, chile, an' talk when de spell
am obah," but no reason had the negro to make this
charge now, for as suddenly as it appeared did the face
vanish, and I now gazed in fascination down into its
depths, yes, through it into light beyond. This is what
I saw.
The motion of the air at first was similar to a thick
mist blown back and forth in the night before an ilium-
inated object that could just be distinguished deep down
in the bottomless distance. Then came a gyrating move-
ment that swept the vapours into a spiral which revolved
as does an eddy of water, sucking the vapours into a
vortex centre, which seemed to pass down into the in-
creasing brightness beyond. As the vapours disappeared
into the eddy, the light rapidly brightened, and soon I
sat looking into a sunshine scene in which no object
appeared, nothing but a curious light, soft, pleasant,
soothing. Then came a shadow, and as by magic a
scene uplifted oefore my eyes, a scene of the past in
which I had taken part, and all the incidents of that night
of terror in which as a child I first ran to this cabin,
followed each other in rapid succession. I saw minutely
every phase of that scene, from the reading by Cupe of
the sign in the ashes to the vision of the little girl sitting
at the table.
514
The Magic Mirror
Next came a blank in which mists whirled again, and
then appeared the scene in the grocery, where, that night
in 1863, stood Parson Jones confronting the picturesque
Colonel Luridson. I heard the storm again ; the sleet
and wind of New Year, 1864, beat upon my ears, the
movements of the men about that stove and their con-
versation were again a part of my life, and I saw myself,
too, sitting in the circle even until the climax came and
the hands of the parson leaped out and grasped the throat
of Luridson. I saw and heard as if I were an observer,
and then, as for the second time, I gazed at a scene in
which an actor, I sat now an observer. I cried aloud
and the scene changed.
Next came, one by one, the principal incidents I have
recorded in this history of my life and which I need not
again relate. The quarrel with Red-Head in the valley,
the farewell to Stringtown, the pathetic ride on the old,
rocking stage, the subsequent experiences in Cincinnati,
touched upon by Cupe and which I had never described
to any one, the life in college, the return to Stringtown,
the recent incidents, and at last I was led to the present
moment, and saw myself sitting in my chair gazing into
the magic mirror. Yes, I sat in the cabin of Cupe
holding that occult glass, into whose depths I was peer-
ing and, remarkable statement, I was surely looking at
myself. A feeling of awe came over me, a desire to
drop the glass, and yet I could not. Spellbound my
eyes followed the young man (myself), who next handed
the glass to the negro by his side and passed out of the
cabin. He walked slowly, with bowed head, seemingly
in deep meditation ; but once did he stoop (and then I
could not catch the object he picked up) until, raising
his eyes, a girl appeared before him. The two spoke,
then I saw him take her hand and plead for something,
315
Stringtown on the Pike
but in words I could not catch, for the voices were very
low. She stood with drooping eyes and seemed to with-
stand the earnest solicitation, for she shook her head,
and at last they separated, he moving slowly away toward
Stringtown, she toward the cabin. And as she passed
along I observed that her eyes were filled with tears.
I next followed the lad until I entered the village. I
saw the door of my home open, and then I stood by
my mother's side pleading for something in words that
again I could not catch. Eye seemed to be the more
acute of the senses now, for while I heard an indistinct
hum of voices ear could not catch the words. Earnestly
I pleaded with my mother, and as I did so, I who saw but
could not hear, grew deeply interested in the nature of
the conversation, for I felt that it concerned my recent
interview with the girl. Involuntarily I moved the
mirror nearer my face, and then, instantly, darkness
enveloped me. I sat in absolute darkness back in the
cabin ; the charm was broken.
I do not know how the negro learned that I had
broken the spell — possibly I made some noise ; at any
rate, he lighted the candle, took the "sign-glass " from
my hands, opened the door, drew up the curtains, and
then said : " An' did yo' see de story ob yoah life ? "
*' I had a curious experience, surely," I replied, in a
respectful tone I should not have used preceding the
" experience."
" An' did yo' reach de cabin ? "
" Yes."
"An' did yo' go pas' de cabin an' see de tings what 's
come'n ? "
" I saw myself walk away from this cabin, if you call
that ' tings what 's come'n'."
" Yo' did n't git t' de end ob yoah trabels, yo' did n't
316
The Magic Mirror
see de cole face an' de crossed ham's, yo' did n't see de
endin' ob de spell twixt yo' an' Red-Head ? "
" No."
*■ Yo' did n't fin' de meanin' ob de sign what say dat
Susie '11 be gone from the worl' an' walkin' still ? "
" No ; I moved the mirror and the scene disappeared."
" Et am monstrous strange, de endin' ob de spell fo'
Susie. Cupe hab read de endin' ob Red- Head an' ob
yo', too, but he caint git no sense out ob de endin' ob
Susie. Gone out ob de worl' an' yet in et, de spell say.
She wah surely walkin' ahftah de sign p'dict she wah
gone from de worl'. De pure white face wah sweet es
an angel, she wah in ole Kaintuck suah, she wah movin'
an' talkin', yit de sign say she wah gone from de worl'.
Et am an awful ting t' Cupe t' not see de cleah endin'
ob de spell fo' Susie." Then he turned to me and
spoke kindly : " Chile, Cupe doan mean no ha'am t' yo',
he hain't said no disrespec'. Yo' hab slandered de sign
what doan come out ob de alm'nac book, but befo' yo'
speak at random ag'in yo'll see dat de sign-glass kin show
what de alm'nac book caint. Yo' hab seed de tings
what yo' know am wonct be'n, an' yo' hab seed de
come'n steps, an' yo' caint help but walk in de way yo'
saw de signs movin'." He pointed to the door. " De
come'n ob de sign am axin' yo' t' go on."
I left the cabin, and passed down a path that led to
Stringtown.
317
CHAPTER LII
MY SECOND JOURNEY OVER A PATH I NEVER YET
HAD TROD
MANY and varied vi^ere the emotions that passed
through my mind as I left that door. What
strange mirror had Cupe in his possession that could
lead me to imagine that I was looking at my past move-
ments ? " Pshaw ! " I said aloud, " the negro has
made a fool of me."
But there came then to mind the curious manner in which
he touched upon my movements in Cincinnati. Slowly
I passed along, stopping often to think over the incidents
related, and then it occurred to me that I had passed
that way before. Yes, I saw that I was simply retrac-
ing a path over which I had recently walked ; and yet I
knew that I came to the cabin by another path, and that
not for four years had I been there previously. Objects
by the wayside were familiar, and as I passed along I
anticipated those that would next appear.
I stooped over and picked a modest little blue blossom
that peeped from a tuft of grass by the path — I had
picked that same flower before from beside that exact
clump of grass — and as I pinned it to my lapel I appre-
ciated that once before I had pinned that identical flower
to the lapel as now I did it.
" Strange," I thought to myself, " I meet detail ex-
periences now that I did not notice when reading the
mirror, but which I perceive, now that I am reminded
318
My Second Journey, &c.
of them, are surely repetitions of past incidents." And
then I caught the fact that the mirror seemingly opened
conspicuous phases of life and held them before my gaze,
but left the impress of others to be revived on my intel-
lect. These reflections sifted through my mind as I
passed for the second time along that narrow path, the
path I had recently seen myself following, and then my
thoughts turned towards Susie and unbidden came to my
lips the lines of a favourite song of that day :
'T was down in the meadows, the violets were blooming
And the springtime grass was fresh and green.
And the birds by the brooklet their sweet songs were singing,
When I first met my darling, Daisy Deane.
" Don't sing the song out, please."
I had turned a sharp angle in the thickest banked
hollow and Susie stood before me. She was slowly
walking toward her home ; her downcast eyes were
shaded by her sunbonnet, and her gaze rested on the
path before her. She raised her eyes and fixed them on
my own, this child woman, whose youthful face, not-
withstanding her childishness, was womanly in expres-
sion. " I have been to the cabin. Miss Susie," I said ;
" it may be my last visit, for soon I start North to pre-
pare for the task I have assumed ; but you know that
you said I might come again."
Not heeding my words, the girl extended her hand ; I
took it in my own, and held it too long, I fear, before
releasing it. " Mr. Drew," she said, " you must come
no more to my home." I began to protest, but she
interrupted. "Do not deny me this favour; I am in
earnest, deeply in earnest. Come no more to my cabin,
avoid Cupe, avoid Dinah " — she hesitated an instant,
just enough to show that she had hesitated — and con-
tinued : " Bid me good-bye forever."
319
Stringtown on the Pike
" Susie, this is cruel. What have I done to provoke
you ? Did I not ask you to forgive my rudeness the
night I met Red-Head in your home ? "
" I bear you no ill will for that," she answered. " I
was partly at fault, and I am sorry for my last remark ;
I did not give the rose to Red-Head."
" I already know that, and yet I thank you for telling
me. But why did you tantalise me, what object had
you in declining to give me the second rose, why did
you irritate me by leading me to believe that you in-
tended to give it to him ?"
" Am I not a girl ? Why should you take that so
seriously ? Had you the discernment of a girl you
would not have asked me to give you the second rose ; it
was foolish in me to proffer you, unasked, the first one."
" Let the matter drop. I have one of the roses and
Red-Head did not get the other. Susie, twice only in
four years have I called at your home to meet you ; at
neither time did I get the chance to tell you why I made
the visit."
" Nor must you tell me now."
*' Susie, I'll not leave you this time without having
my say. I — "
" Please, Mr. Drew," she interrupted, " first listen to
me.
" Go on. Miss Susie. But when you have finished I
shall tell you what twice before I have tried to say."
Not heeding me, she continued : " I am a lonely
girl reared by the negroes. I have been wild and care-
less, but am so no longer. If I have a father, he has
no child in me. My mother was shot during the war,
I cannot remember her. Youth has been in my case a
strange story of negro lore and superstition, of human
neglect and inhuman loneliness. I remember less of
320
My Second Journey, &c.
pleasure than of trouble, less of kindness than of rude-
ness. I am prematurely old in some things, but this is
not my fault ; no other girl in Stringtown has had cause
to think as have I of things that crush the joys of child-
hood. No girl companion ever crosses the threshold of
my home, nor do I meet any in their own. Why
should I be young ? Mr. Dreu^, to think as I have
done since I vi^as taught my place among people is to
learn more of some things than many who are much
older know. To feel the undeserved touch of shame is
to realise what shame really is. To meet the shrinking
eye and the withdrawn hand, to hear the sneer of the
heartless tongue, brings care and sorrow that brushes
youth away early. I am alone with Cupe and Dinah ;
nearly as old in feeling, I sometimes imagine, as are
they. You have been kind in thinking of me. I don't
know why you act as you do, but you are indiscreet and
have no right to injure yourself and wrong me by per-
sisting in your visits. I wish to be left alone; and
while I feel deeply grateful for your good will, I cannot
permit any further attention."
" Susie, you wrong both of us by this idle talk. You
are a girl, and yet you take life as seriously as if you
were a full-grown woman."
" Cares and thoughts that are bred of snubs and
sneers have cut off my girlhood. I have already told
you that. I have no mother to take a mother's part for
me ; I must be a woman. I know some things too
well to require information from others concerning
them, and one of these is that you have brought me
much trouble."
" I, Susie, I ? "
" Yes, you. It was you who asked that I might be
educated, who led me to receive the instruction that
21 ^21
Stringtown on the Pike
enabled me to understand my position in life. Were I
the wild ignorant girl I should have been but for your
interference, I might now be happy with the negroes,
knowing nothing concerning the world nor of what
others have and are in the world, nor yet of what I arh
myself. You did a wrong, Mr. Drew, in thus showing
me what other girls are, and in picturing my utter dis-
grace and absolute helplessness. I could not have felt
these things had you left me in ignorance."
" Miss — "
" Nothing but Susie, if you please," she interjected,
observing that I hesitated.
" Susie," I continued, " these things that you brood
over concern me not at all and do you no harm. You
magnify your misfortunes ; you misjudge men and
women ; you wrong your friends and hurt those who
would be your friends. I speak from my heart, Susie ;
you wrong me too, and to prove it I shall tell you
now what I came twice before to say. I — "
" Stop," she cried ; " before you finish the words you
intend to speak, I would ask — have you spoken to
your mother ? "
Surely the girl knew what I intended to ask. Her
manner showed that, and now my heart leaped, for her
tone was not that of one offended or unfriendly, but
rather of earnest questioning.
" No ; but she will make no objection to — "
" First ask her, and if she makes no objection, you
may come to the cabin and finish the question you would
ask of me. Promise to do this," she pleaded.
" You have my promise, Susie, but you need have no
question concerning the result. I shall return to-night
— yes, this very afternoon. I '11 tell you then that
which I have started three times to say."
322
My Second Journey, &c.
She shook her head. " You will not come back
to-night, neither will it be to-morrow nor yet the next
day. No, never. You may meet me by accident, I
may come to you — Cupe says that I '11 kneel on the
floor and with tears in my eyes beg justice of you —
but whether this is true or not you will never come to
me with these words on your lips again."
" You will never come again," she continued ; " others
have turned away, none are left but Red-Head and my
guardian — none, and you, too, will come no more.
Farewell." Her hand trembled as I again clasped it,
and now its touch was cold. Her eyes met mine, and
I saw that they were filled with tears. " May I have
the flower you wear in your lapel ? " she asked. " Why
do you ask that of me ? " I said. " Take it, though,
and if ever you need a friend, one who will grant your
every wish, you who claim that you have no friends,
need but show that flower to me. Whatever it may he^
and wherever I may he^ you have hut to askT
"Thank you, and farewell, Mr. Drew. You have
been kind to me, but very thoughtless I think about
yourself. I forgive you the wrong you have done in
the unsought education that shows me my position.
But I wish that it could be forever lost."
I stood in silence. She turned and walked up the
path the way I came, vanishing around the clump of
hazel, and then I turned toward Stringtown. Now
came again to my mind the vision that the mirror
pictured ; all I had seen therein had been repeated,
verified, and in addition my ear had now heard the con-
versation that the mirror failed to give.
323
CHAPTER LIII
" NEVER, UNLESS DUTY CALLS, SHALL I RETURN
TO STRINGTOWN "
MY patient, loving mother, whose life had been a
constant sacrifice for her son, once a source of
deep humiliation, now an object of pride, sat that after-
noon in the little room sewing by the centre table. I
entered with quick step, with happy heart, with no mis-
givings concerning the result of my mission. The
fulfilment of my desires had been to her a source of
great pleasure heretofore ; she had never denied me a
request that was right and that could be conceded.
" Mother " — I said, seating myself beside her chair,
— "I am now twenty-one years of age. 1 have a good
position, where advancement is certain, and where I
shall win yet higher honours. In order to prepare for
the course I have mapped out I must leave Stringtown
in a few days. Before going, however, I wish to speak
with you concerning a very important subject."
" Go on, my son," said she, laying aside her sewing.
" Mother, you know that I have been offered an
assistant position in chemistry. I hope to make a better
home than this for you in a few years, and to give you
a life of peace and rest. For me you have worked your
fingers sore, have slaved since I can remember."
" You must first make a happy home for yourself, my
boy ; that should be your object, one to which, in case
of necessity, your old mother may come and end her
324
"Never, unless Duty Calls, &c."
days. But for a time at least I shall not think of leav-
ing Stringtown. Look forward to a home of your own ;
seek no higher ambition. You will some day meet one
you can ask to go with you to the end of your journey,
and be with you, to love you and be loved. This I
hope to see accomplished before I die."
" I have met her already, mother," I said in elation,
" and I came to ask your permission to speak to her, to
get your blessing on both of us and your favour for her."
*' So soon, my son ! Are you not hasty ? I thought
and spoke of the future. I had no suspicion of this
love ; you did not tell me that you had found a sweet-
heart in the North."
" Nor have I."
" And yet you keep no company with Stringtown
girls."
" No, and shall not. I am in love, but my love is
neither in the North nor in Stringtown. I love the girl
who lives with Cupe and Dinah, the girl called Susie."
My mother dropped the garment she held in her
hand.
" You do not mean it, Sammy."
" Mother, I speak the truth. I love Susie better than
life."
"• Susie who ? "
The question was cmel. My mother, she to whom I
came in absolute confidence, she, too, emphasised the
word who^ and as unmercifully as any Stringtown girl
had done. I stood up in anger, indignation for the first
time toward my mother entered my heart.
" ' Who ? ' why, Susie, only Susie, and I who am
concerned most of any care for nothing else. Some day
she will be Susie Drew, and then I '11 beat the face of
the man who says ' Susie who ? ' to me, and I '11 teach
325
Stringtown on the Pike
the — " but my mother had spoken the word '-'■who^^ —
I did not finish the remark.
" My son, you must listen to your mother. Have
you asked the girl to marry you ? "
" No."
"She is an adventuress, — yes, vi^orse, a girl without
character, one who has no friends among respectable
people, who is shunned by the village girls and neglected
by the village boys. Her history is one of shameful
birth, if report speaks true ; to be disgraced by birth is a
lasting stigma unforgivable. Subsequent environment has
added nothing to remove the stain, — she has been negro-
bred. Listen to your mother, my dear boy, see her no
more."
" And this from you, mother ! "
" Yes ; I am old enough to speak advisedly. You
are young, a pretty face excites what you think is love,
— it is puppy love, my child, and when the face is out
of sight will soon fade away. You cannot realise that to
marry that girl will be to blast your life and disgrace
your mother. How did this artful adventuress manage
to entangle you ? She 's a dangerous girl. Surely the
villagers do not know of the affair, or else I would long
since have known of it."
" Mother, I cannot take this kindly, even from you.
I must have my say. I am no longer a child. Susie is
as pure and holy as was ever girl or woman. She has
been unfortunate in birth ; she does not know her father,
much to his shame, and not to her disgrace; her life has
been a dreary, lonely one, and her companions have been
her books and the negroes. From the one she has prof-
ited, the others have served her well, — be it said to their
credit and to Stringtown's discredit. You say that I am
possessed by ' puppy love,' that when the face is gone
326
" Never, unless Duty Calls, &c."
the love will fade away. That is not so. You say that
to marry Susie will be to blast my life, that my marriage
to the girl will disgrace you, my mother. And why ?
Because of an unwritten law that scoundrels make, and
society follows, that reaches even such as you, and does
not credit you, who seek to save discredit from your son.
You called that girl an adventuress, but the facts are that
your son made the advances. I sought her, but she gave
no encouragement. I forced my attentions on her, and
she met them coldly. She has been wronged by you.
I must say this, even to you, mother."
I sank on my knees by her side, and as if I were again
a child, buried my face in her lap, while tears, born of
humiliation, indignation, disappointment, and sorrow,
gushed from my eyes. She gently stroked my hair, back
and forth, as she had been wont to do when I was a
child.
" Heed the words of your mother, Sammy. Disgrace
that falls upon and lingers over the name of woman can
never be brushed away."
" But she has done nothing wrong, this forlorn girl ;
she is helpless."
" The world makes no allowance for the fact that the
girl is not at fault ; she is unfortunate, and must accept
the odium that rests upon her name. Does not the Bible
say words to the effect that the sins of the parents shall
be visited upon the children ? "
" Don't make me hate the Bible, mother ! "
« My child ! "
" Listen now to me, mother." I arose and seated
myself on my chair, calm, composed. " I shall leave
Stringtown to-night — yes, this very night. My vaca-
tion scarce commenced, ends to-night. Never, unless
duty calls, shall I return to Stringtown, unless you give
327
Stringtown on the Pike
me permission to go to Susie as a suitor, free to ask her
to be my wife, or unless Susie permits me to visit her. I
have made a fool of myself in my usual way, — that of
thoughtlessly acceding to a request that I should never
have granted. I intended to ask Susie to be my wife
to-day, and then to ask your blessing ; but thinking only
that you would approve of it, I agreed to ask your con-
sent first."
" Thank the Lord, my child, that some far-seeing
friend, one who comprehends the effect of social disgrace,
has prevented this terrible mistake. Whoever he or she
may be, my heartfelt thanks and gratitude go out to him
or her. Had you not made this promise, you might
now have been in the toils of the adventuress."
" You have blessed the girl ; for this I thank you,"
I said, but added no further word of explanation. Then
I arose and strode back and forth across the little room.
Suddenly I turned to my mother :
" I shall take the bus this evening for my new posi-
tion. My trunk is scarce unpacked. I shall leave
Stringtown now.'"
328
CHAPTER LIV
FAREWELL TO SUSIE
I STEPPED into my room and wrote a note which,
hastily sealing, I addressed with the simple word
" Susie." What else could I have used, what else but
*' Susie l^P^ho f " Then I called a boy from the street
and paid him liberally to deliver it immediately. The
letter was permissible, for although I agreed not to call
on her, I had not promised the girl that I would not
write.
Love letters, I have heard, are not as a rule very edi-
fying to others. This, my first, last and only love letter,
I shall, however, venture to reproduce.
Dear Susie : You say that I wronged you in inducing Mr.
Wagner to educate you. To this I take no exception. You
think that you have been led by that education to see yourself
disgraced. With this I take issue. By reason of it you perceive
better the sins of men and women who make social laws to pro-
tect the strong and oppress the weak, to elevate the villain of a
father and damn his innocent child. I shall leave Stringtown
this afternoon on the evening bus, and by your command I go
without calling on you. You induced me to promise to leave to
my mother a question that concerned myself more than all
others, you bound me to an oath that I cannot break, but which
your discriminative eye foresaw would lead to my defeat and to
my present distress. For this I blame you. Let, then, my
charge against you balance the one you hold against me. And
now to the future. I leave Stringtown anxious to complete the
sentence which, incomplete as it is, I shall hold sacred until my
Stringtown on the Pike
mother gives me the privilege of returning to your side or until
you permit me to come and finish it. I obey my mother
because you command it, otherwise I should firmly insist on
using my ow^n good will ; you know what that will is. I sol-
emnly swear that it shall never change while life lasts.
Yours,
Samuel Drew.
Then I turned to help my mother pack the trunk
that a few days previously came with me from the
North. In a short time it was strapped and rolled to the
gate. I bade her farewell, and at last as the shadows
lengthened started for the bus which, delayed by an acci-
dent, late that afternoon rolled into Stringtown. As I
mounted the box to the familiar seat beside the driver,
old Cupe shuffled to my side and thrust a letter into my
hand, then left me without a word. The four-in-hand
rolled ofF, stopped a moment before my mother's door,
where my trunk was thrown aboard, and then rumbled
on again. Once more I saw mother standing with
handkerchief to her eyes, but this time I felt that had
she cared more for her boy and less for the traditions of
society, joy might both have brightened her face and
gladdened my heart.
Then I opened the letter that lies now before my
eyes :
Afr. Samue/ Drew.
Dear Friend : In reply to your letter, it is my opinion that
you wrong your mother. She should not be blamed for loving
you too well to permit you to disgrace yourself. I am unfor-
tunate, through no act of my own, it is true, but yet unfortunate,
and I know it. Were I in the place of one of your Stringtown
girls, and she in mine, I would probably shun her as now I am
shunned. The mark of shame rests over my life. The social
rules that govern people cannot be changed, nor should they ;
Farewell to Susie
for to relax social vigilance would be to open the door to crime
and immorality. I have racked my brain over the matter, have
read and studied social science, and although I am young, the sub-
ject has disturbed me for years. You have my thanks for your
good will — this I have told you before. You will merit them
the more if you look to your own future, and forget the past so
far as it concerns me. Undo your hasty, thoughtless pledges,
strive to excel in good deeds and leave the negro-bred girl
Susie to pass in peace wherever chance or duty leads her. Mr.
Drew, you are far above me. Of all the persons I know, Red-
Head alone stands in actual sympathy and on an equality with
such as I. Let, then, my life be spent in sympathy with those
to whom such as I must be in touch, let the unended sentence
you have three times commenced rest unfinished forever.
Very truly yours,
Susie.
While I was reading the letter the driver stopped the
team in order to arrange a defective piece of harness on
one of the horses, and as I raised my eyes I saw Red-
Head beneath a tree by the right-hand side of the road.
Tall, erect, lithe, he stood not more than twenty feet
from me, gazing directly into my face. A sensation akin
to pity for the young man came over me, a kindly feel-
ing for one neglected as he had been. I raised my hat
politely and bowed. But he, without any recognition
whatever, gazed stoically into my face and whistled.
Then the devil touched my heart, and in a low tone,
that was the more effective because of this fact, I asked :
" Why do you not go back to the mountains ; cannot
you handle a Springfield rifle yet ? " He made no
replv, and I continued : " How about that mountain
feud ? Holcomb will get tired of waiting for you to
grow bigger."
Indifferent to the taunt, he stood motionless. The
coach now moved on, and as it did so I spoke the
331
Stringtown on the Pike
meanest words I ever used : " You 're very w^illing to
talk fight, you who dare not go back to the mountains
where lives old man Holcomb." But even this brought
no reply ; like a statue he remained in the shadow,
watching the stage on which I sat, watching it until
around a bend in the pike the lumbering vehicle dis-
appeared from his view.
332
CHAPTER LV
PROFESSOR SAMUEL DREW
INTO the University I stepped with embittered heart
and rebellious spirit. Ambition still possessed me,
but not such ambition as should have animated a poor
widow's son with my prospects. The professor whom
I was to assist greeted me kindly, and I found him to
be a charming old man, engrossed in the love of his
science. He took pains to introduce me at once to
those of his colleagues who still lingered about the
University, although most members of the faculty were
now enjoying their vacation elsewhere.
" You please me very much, Mr. Drew," he remarked
during our first audience. " Not many young men
would sacrifice their summer vacation as you have done
in order to acquaint themselves with the exacting details
of a new work. It speaks well for your future, for while
genius is often useful and sometimes leads to fortune,
the men who make successes of their lives are those
who work while others rest. Surely it must have re-
quired more than a little self-sacrifice on your part to
leave your mother, your friends, your — " he glanced slyly
out of the corners of his eyes — " your sweetheart ! "
" Let it pass," I answered ; " forget that I came
before duty called me. I shall do my utmost to credit
myself in the future."
Many were the compliments the old professor gave
me, for my daily application pleased him, and when the
333
Stringtown on the Pike
president returned from abroad, he praised me in my
very presence, informing him that I had sacrificed my
vacation and devoted my entire time to the University
work, " and," he added, " credit for the changed con-
dition of the laboratory and chemical department is due
to his personal efforts." But I thought of the girl who
once stood before me in the path near Stringtown, and
the events that had followed the request she made ; of
the bitter spirit and heart madness with which I came to
this work ; and realising how unearned was the praise
bestowed upon me, demurred.
" You are mistaken," I said. " I deserve no credit."
" Tut, tut, boy ! and to whom is the credit due ? "
The answer and the question were alike unexpected ;
the eyes of both were quizzing me.
" To Susie."
The old man chuckled, and slyly poked the president
in the ribs with his thumb, a thing I did not expect to
see a dignified professor do to a great president.
" And who is Susie ? "
That hateful term again, " Who is Susie ? " Could
I never get away from it ? But regard for the men led
me to be decorous now and to suppress my indignation.
" She 's a girl, and lives near Stringtown."
Again the professor chuckled. " Let the credit be
with Susie; " then he added : " Let us hope the time may
come when we may meet Susie in the University."
" She '11 never come to this University while I am
here, and never again shall I visit Stringtown while she
is there. We are nothing to each other, for she will
not have it so. I beg you, though, to give Susie the
credit for my early appearance, and pass the matter
forever."
" Pardon us, Mr. Drew ; we unintentionally touched
334
Professor Samuel Drew
a tender spot ; pardon our thoughtless familiarity," said
the professor. Thsy passed from the room and I turned
sadly to my work. But I could not help thinking that
the old professor reminded me very much of Judge
Elford, and I could but wonder how the dignified presi-
dent of a University could be punched in the ribs with-
out being offended. And so I began my new found
task which grew more enticing as the seasons passed,
during which period, true to my word, I refrained from
visiting Stringtown.
The death of good old Professor Longman, who died
after a short illness, left me, in the middle of a subse-
quent session, in full charge of the classes, and faithful
attention to my duties, together with the commendations
he had bestowed upon me during his life, led the trustees
subsequently to appoint me to the vacancy, to which
knowing well my youthfulness, I did not presume to
aspire. But it seems that the president had declared
in my favour and was not afraid of young blood. He
appeared personally before the Board and expressed him-
self to that effect, which left them no reason, had they
been so inclined, to seek elsewhere for a successor.
Hence the Announcement of the University on the Hill,
following the death of Professor Longman, bore my
name as Professor of Chemistry, and thus it was that
I became unexpectedly honoured ; but of this I need
say nothing further, for I was now a man, and knew
that hard work had earned that position for me.
The middle of the session following my appointment
found me one day sitting in my private office reading
a letter from my mother. It contained the usual loving
messages, and the neighbourhood gossip was also brought
to date. But its ending, which I reproduce, cast a
shadow over my heart:
Stringtown on the Pike
Mr. Nordman, the old gentleman who lived beside the pike
south of Stringtown, died suddenly this morning. He had been
very feeble, but otherwise seemed to enjoy good health. He
was attacked with a misery in his stomach immediately after
breakfast, and died soon after the doctor reached his bedside.
I held the letter listlessly in my hand and mused:
" Now he, too, will lie in the little graveyard behind
the house." And musing thus, the single shaft in the
family graveyard appeared before my mind-sight ; that
shaft to the south of which rested his child, the Southern
soldier, and to the north of which lay the Union son.
And next came to mind and sight the form of Mr.
Nordman, as the day before I left Stringtown, he led
me to the spot where rested his two boys. And then
recurred the words of advice he gave me as we parted :
" The grass grows no greener, the violets bloom no
earlier, over the one than over the other. ' The wah
is over, Sammy.' "
•■' The war is surely over now for you, Mr. Nord-
man," I sadly said to myself, and then turned to my
work.
336
CHAPTER LVI
THE STRINGTOWN POISON CASE
THE lectures passed day by day, the laboratory
classes were drilled, as usual, and yet that sen-
tence of Mr. Nordman rang in my ears and came un-
bidden to mind when no cause seemed to excite it.
The figure of Mr. Nordman seemed constantly before
my eyes, his words rang ever in my ears, and try as I
might I could not beat them out.
" What had Mr. Nordman to do with me, that the
announcement of his death should thus concern me ? "
I asked this question, and then argued that this domina-
tion of my mind by his form and voice was simply the
result of habit, a fit of melancholy permitted it, a sour
stomach, perhaps, induced it. Surely Mr. Nordman's
death was of no greater concern to me than was that of
many other men in Stringtown who had died since I
knew the village. Then came a second letter from
Stringtown, a letter in a strange hand, but which bore
the well-known Stringtown postmark. It was written
by the attorney who had prosecuted old negro Cupe in
the trial wherein he was freed by Right of Clergy, and
I learned from it that the writer was again prosecuting
attorney of Stringtown County. Let me give the letter
in full :
My dear Professor Drew : As prosecuting attorney of
Stringtown County, it becomes my duty to engage an expert
chemist in behalf of the Commonwealth. Can I secure your
^^ 337
Stringtown on the Pike
services ? The case is one of importance, and knowing you as
I do, and knowing, too, the esteem in which you are held bv
the people of our county, I hope that you will consent to serve
us. We wish an analysis made of the contents of the stomach
of Mr. Nordman, whom you probably remember. I will add
that I guarantee your fee, which will be paid by the adminis-
trator of the estate. Please let me hear from you at once.
Sincerely yours,
Z. B. PUTTEN.
I turned to my desk and at once accepted the offer,
giving explicit directions concerning the manner in which
the suspected parts were to be secured, sealed in the
presence of witnesses and then expressed to my address.
The letter posted, I turned to my books and sought the
sections devoted to the detection of poisons, after which
I sat in meditation. Do not "coming events cast their
shadows before ? '* In what other way than on this
hypothesis can I account for the persistence with which
I had been pursued by the form and words of Mr. Nord-
man ? Then came the thought that in the course of
events duty would demand that I go once more to
Stringtown. Duty calls, and while away in her behest
I may chance to meet Susie.
Then I mentally thanked Mr. Putten, the prosecuting
attorney, for his confidence in my ability, and did not
feel unkindly toward Mr. Nordman for the part he had
taken in my personal affairs.
But when the express package reached me, that
wooden-bound box securely encased in hoop iron, a sen-
sation which I cannot correctly voice in writing came
over me. And when my assistant opened the box and
removed from it the large glass fruit jar closely wrapped
in stiff manilla paper and sealed with red wax bearing the
official stamp of the sheriff, I felt a sinking of the heart j
338
The Stringtown Poison Case
for I was not accustomed to handle such fruit as that jar
contained. But a duty is a duty, I thought, and a
gem from the Jewish Talmud came to my mind : ^
A man along that road is led
Which he himself desires to tread ;
and for the first time I questioned if my repeated use of
the word duty, in connection with this affair, was not
due to an attempt on my part to argue my conscience
down. But it was too late now to retreat. Ambition
as well as duty bade me go on. Then another verse
from the Talmud formulated itself unbidden and rang its
changes in my mental ear :
Ambition, as its fate, death and the grave await.
" Open the package, William," I said to my assistant,
" remove half its contents, securely close and seal the jar
containing the other part and place it in a cool situation
in the laboratory cellar." He did as directed, and I
turned to my test tubes and reagents.
Systematically I began the task I had undertaken —
the examination of the contents of the jar with the
object of discovering if it contained a poisonous body.
There is no need of a record of all the details of the
process. It is enough to state that no mineral poison,
no inorganic poisonous acid, was discovered, nor yet the
formidable prussic acid. Neither was phosphorus pres-
ent nor any poisonous metal or salt thereof. There was
no trace of an arsenic compound. The most exacting
tests gave negative results only, and at last I turned to
search for the vegetable bodies known as alkaloids, which,
as a rule, are so energetic in action ; strychnine, mor-
phine, atropine, being typical of the class. It will be
1 See "Gems from the Talmud," by Rev. Isadore Myers, B.A.
339
Stringtown on the Pike
seen that these bodies embrace the most fearful of the
poisons, and, let me add, are detected as a class by cer-
tain well-known reagents.
William stood with chin resting nearly on my shoul-
der and watched the first drop of the sensitive test-liquid
slip down the side of the test tube and strike the surface
of the acidulated solution I had made from the suspected
material. As the two liquids mingled a white cloud
sprang into view, and as the denser drop of Mayer's
Test sank slowly down into the yellow liquid, following
the inclined glass tube to its very bottom, a white cloud
marked its pathway, and when the liquids were shaken
together a milky solution resulted. Another and yet
another drop of the test solution was cautiously added,
and the liquids successively mixed, producing yet deeper
milkiness ; and at last, under the gentle agitation of the
turbid liquid, changed into a clear solution holding clots
of dirty white precipitate, which, when the tube was
allowed to rest, settled to the bottom in a heavy layer.
I turned to my assistant, but no words were necessary ;
to one conversant with alkaloidal tests this reaction char-
acteristic of the group needed no explanation. Our eyes
spoke the message that required no tongue to interpret.
But not content with this, I took successive but very
small portions of the original liquid and tested them sev-
erally with other reagents for the alkaloids, with unmis-
takable returns from all. Then, as I made a careful
record of the result in my note-book, I said : " The
next step is to identify the alkaloid."
" I would expect strychnine," my assistant remarked,
" for these precipitates seem to me much like those of
strychnine."
340
CHAPTER LVII
SUSIE PLEADS FOR RED-HEAD
" ** I ''HAT point must be determined," I replied. " It
-^ may be strychnine or a mixture. I shall not
prejudice myself concerning it." And in the end, after
several days had passed, I was fairly well satisfied, al-
though there were some points in connection with the
chrome-sulphuric acid test which puzzled me. The
blue-violet colour surely did appear, but it was not as
characteristic as I should have liked. But after I ob-
tained white microscopic crystals of an alkaloid on a
slide which gave the reaction, I said : '' You were cor-
rect in your prediction, William ; strychnine must be
present, and such shall be my testimony before the
Court of Stringtown County."
But that evening, for the first time, misgivings arose
in my mind. They came during the dinner hour, when
a companion made an idle query tnat I could not satisfac-
torily answer, and so turned lightly aside, but it led me to
questionings. I arose from the table and sought my room.
I picked up a light novel, but could not interest myself in
its contents. I turned to Chatnbers' Miscellany^ and by
chance opened Volume H. to the record of cases wherein
many men had suffered death on circumstantial evidence
that in itself seemed with each case to be conclusive
of guilt, but which afterward was shown to have been
erroneous. That work gave me the shivers. I turned to
the Bible, and read part of the Book of Job and laid it
341
Stringtown on the Pike
down. I picked up Myers' Gems from the Talmud,
and caught but one sentence :
With the measure with which man metes to men,
It will be measured to him again.
I closed the book, drew on my overcoat, and in a
gathering winter storm started for my laboratory. It
was dark, very dark, and yet I went on in the night,
for that verse and my disconcerted emotions impelled
me to go then and to go there. Lighting up my room,
I took out the reagents and the suspected liquid and
carefully verified the reactions. I opened the books
that are authority on phytochemistry, and studied the
pages word by word. Closing them, I stood in thought ;
then with my hand on the pile of volumes, spoke aloud :
" If there be error in this work which I have done, ;'<?«
are at fault, not I. But why should I question ; am not
I a disciple in science and is not science infallible? Is
not the chrome reaction of strychnine one of the cer-
tainties in chemistry ? Even to your bitterness have I
tested you," I said, addressing the liquid before me.
But still a doubt possessed me, a questioning that would
not have been had I possessed enough liquid to obtain
large, pure crystals of strychnine ; nor would it have
been a question in face of the reaction, had no human
life been at stake. I raised the window and leaned out
of the opening ; the scattered flakes of snow that were
falling struck my heated forehead, imparting a pleasant
tingle with each tiny contact. The cool air was refresh-
ing, for my brain was hot. Dark were the other build-
ings in the University grounds, dark was the country
beyond, for my private laboratory was situated in the
second story and permitted a view of the distance.
Across the field of my vision came then a stream of
342
Susie Pleads for Red-Head
moving lights ; the night train from the South was ap-
proaching, and I watched it until the animated creation
disappeared from view behind the building, and next I
heard it whistle for the station. Feeling better now,
for the cool air and the diversion of thought had re-
laxed my nerves and soothed my brain, I turned again
to my task, determined to go once more with great care
over the work and end it. I do not know how many
minutes I devoted to the manipulation — it must have
taken half an hour — when came a ring of the bell of
the outer door. I raised the window, and saw by the
feeble light of the transom beneath that two figures stood
just outside the entrance. Two of my friends, I con-
jectured, and with this thought in mind spoke : " Open
the door — it is not locked — and follow the lighted hall
to my room. No. 13. You need not knock, open the
door and enter."
Again I turned to the tube I held in my hand prepa-
ratory to the final test, my back to the door, and was
thus employed when it opened. A voice I once knew
so well, but had thought never to hear again, spoke :
*' May I come in. Dr. Drew ? I would speak to you."
I turned my head. There stood Susie, and behind
her, in the background, appeared the familiar face of old
Cupe. I replaced the tube in the rack and next ex-
tended my trembling hand to the girl. " Susie," I said,
as I asked her to be seated, " this is unexpected."
Unintentionally I glanced at the clock ; the girl's eyes
followed mine. " It is late. Professor Drew. I felt
that, but the train was behind time, and I must return
early to-morrow morning." She spoke reservedly.
" Please be seated," I said, for she had not yet taken
the proffered chair. But she made no movement.
Standing before me, she gazed straight into my eyes,
343
Stringtown on the Pike
and by that glance threw back into my life the wild love
of other days, the love that had never been suppressed,
but which, long encysted in my heart, needed but the
sight of its creator to cause it to burst again into life.
" I came to meet you, Mr. Drew," she replied, " to
ask a question — yes, to beg a favour."
" If in my power, you need only ask it."
A smile came over her face, a smile that flitted on the
instant. " You have my thanks in advance for your
good will ; and yet I have not named the favour."
" Susie," I impulsively replied, " your will is law to
me. Tell me what you wish."
" Promise me that you will not visit Stringtown until
after the next session of our quarterly Court."
I stood in astonishment. " Why do you ask this ? "
" Promise me not to come."
^' But I have legally contracted to testify before the
Court. I am bound to appear."
" And does this recently made duty to others so easily
overcome your thrice-volunteered pledge to me ? "
" My reputation demands that I attend that Court as
an expert witness. I shall advance my position as a
professional chemist by doing so."
" It is but a little favour that I ask, and already you
have promised to grant it. Do you value more your
self-ambition than your word to me ? "
" I cannot break my contract."
" A friend of yours bids me say a word to you in case
I fail, a friend who knows of my visit here."
" And who may this friend be, Susie ? "
" Judge Elford. ' Tell Sammy that I say the expert
chemist is not an honour to science. Tell him that if
he values his reputation, to decline to take an expert's
part in this or any other case while conditions are as
344
Susie Pleads for Red-Head
now and chemists make themselves partisans for the side
that pays them. Tell him that I say keep away from
Stringtown during the coming Court session.' "
" The judge has spoken too late, and you come too
late, Susie. I am powerless. See " — I pointed to the
apparatus about me — " for days have I worked on this
Stringtown poison case, have recorded the results, am
ready to testify to the facts. I must go to that Court ;
duty calls me." .^
" And so by means of these glasses you have estab-
lished the nature of events that once occurred in String-
town. A man you have not seen for years has died,
and you propose to swear concerning the cause of his
death ? "
" Yes."
" And may I ask, do the sign-glasses augur good to
the living, or is the omen such as to lead you to String-
town to swear a man onto the gallows ? "
" Susie, this is not sign lore, this is science. Long
since I wiped out of my nature those superstitious signs
and omens of which you speak, but which have now no
credence with me. This is science, 1 say, and science
speaks unerringly concerning that which is ; she tells,
too, of things that have passed and predicts those yet to
come."
" But you did not answer my question. Do the
glasses say that Mr. Nordman died of poison ? "
" Yes ; but I beg you to keep the fact to yourself.
I should not tell you this."
The girl dropped on her knees. " No ! I say no ! he
was not poisoned ! " All her composure, her irony, her
sarcastic tone of voice, vanished. She wrung her hands,
and kneeling thus appeared for the first time a pleading
woman, with the heart emotions of a woman. " No,
345
Stringtown on the Pike
Mr. Drew, I say it was not poison, even if your science
swears it ! "
" Compose yourself, Susie."
" You are the only man I fear ; no other chemist
can come to Stringtown County and impress a jury of
our people as your words will do, or antagonise them as
they may do. Say that you will not come ! grant me
this favour ! "
" I cannot."
She drew from her bosom a folded paper and took
from it a pressed and dried blue flower. " When we
stood in the path near my home in old Kentucky the day
we last met, you gave me this flower, and of your own
accord told me that if ever I wished a favour and pre-
sented this flower the favour should be granted. ' What-
ever it may be and wherever I shall be,' you said, ' you
have but to ask.' I bring you now the flower, and on
my knees I beg you to fulfil the promise made the girl
long before you contracted with Mr. Putten to read for
him the signs in the glasses. Is not the word given to
me in the years that have passed as sacred as the legal
contract you made but a few days ago ? T ask you to
drop this Case, to come not to Stringtown during the
next term of Court. Believe in me, Mr. Drew ; accept
my pleadings before you do the signs and omens that
you read in these tubes and vessels. I am alive, I have
breath, consciousness and love. Those vessels are dead,
insensible. Will you not take my word before that of
lifeless objects, which I, who live and reason, say have
not told the truth ? "
" I cannot. Ask anything else but this. See, that
blue-violet colouration of strychnine." I held the vessel
and applied the test before her eyes.
Dropping the withered flower on the floor, she arose
346
Susie Pleads for Red-Head
and placed her foot upon it. " And this you call duty,
this breaking of a sacred promise given to one who
treasured your words and had no hope for happiness
beyond the bare words you then spoke, and those other
unframed words you wished to utter and which I longed
to hear you say. You now speak of duty, but this man-
ner of duty that you are acting I call murder, for your
words will hang an innocent man ! "
" Of whom do you speak, Susie ? whom am I to
hang by my evidence? "
" Do you not know ? "
" I do not."
" Red-Head. He is charged with poisoning Mr.
Nordman, and lies now in the jail of Stringtown
County."
Suddenly there came into my heart a sensation akin
to exultation. Red-Head, my antagonist of former
times, my rival yet, charged with murder, and the evi-
dence resting in my hands to convict him. Once I had
a doubt concerning the reaction for strychnine ; I came
this very evening in a questioning mood, for some things
concerning the colour were not quite clear ; but there
was no doubt now.
" Susie," I said, and I spoke with deliberation, " do
you remember the evening Red-Head held my hands
together and sneered in my face, the evening in your
home when I told him that never again would I fight
him after the manner brutes fight ? Do you recollect
that I said the time would come when I could use my
brain instead of my fists, and predicted that brain would
win ? Do you recollect that ? "
The girl no longer shrank from me, she no longer
stood in supplication, but with erect head and flashing
eye she answered : " And this you call the triumph of
347
Stringtown on the Pike
brain over muscle ? The unsophisticated country boy
who lies in the jail of Stringtown County's seat is to be
hung by you, the professor of chemistry in this great
University ! The prisoner is defenceless, and yet he is
as innocent as he is defenceless. When the noose
tightens about his throat your position as a chemist will
be established, you say. God help you, man of science,
you who permit ambition to trample down your love for
woman, to crush your humanity to man, to break the
sacred pledge given in confidence to one who trusted
you ! "
" Susie, as sure as the sun ever shone I found strych-
nine in that specimen. As God lives, I swear it. "
" But if Red-Head dies a criminal and afterward it
should be proven that there was no strychnine in your
glasses ? "
" That day or night — yes, that very hour, I will pay
the penalty with my own life. I know how to mix
potions that leave no mark and yet do their work
promptly. If this be not strychnine my life goes out."
She turned to the negro, seemingly without having
heard my fearful pledge. " Bring the money, Cupe ;
other inducements than the pleadings of a lone girl must
be made, to affect a man bound to science."
The negro came forward, bearing a valise, from which
he took a heavy box ; this he placed on the table near
me. " Ma'se Sammy, et am de gol' out ob de ole chist
in de grabeya'd. De false bott'm what de little key
op'n'd cubbahed what de sheriff could n't fin',"
He opened the box; it was filled with gold coin;
never had I seen so much gold, never before had such
wealth been within my grasp.
"Take it all, Mr. Drew, and spare Red-Head. I ask
you to fulfill the promise made me years ago, and I
348
Susie Pleads for Red-Head
bring you here a fee that will exceed many times that
paid by the prosecutor of Stringtown County. By right
of priority, by right of a sacred promise, by the profes-
sional touch of gold, I ask that you serve me and not
the Commonwealth."
'' You humiliate me, Susie. I cannot sell myself, you
know it."
" Take it all, and keep away from our Court. Let
the boy live."
" I shall go to the Court of Stringtown County and
testify to the truth." My eyes were fixed upon her
face, my voice was firm and determined. She saw that
no hope remained.
"You will regret this decision, but I now say never
shall your evidence hang Red-Head."
" But if he is proven guilty ? "
" He must not hang. Now I shall seek the man who
will listen to the appeal of justice, who can stand between
this uncultured country boy and the scaffxald. I came
to you of my own will, not by the counsel or consent
of Red-Head. He defies both you and your art; he
said to me : ' Goto the mountains of Eastern Kentucky,
take this letter ' " (she drew a letter from her pocket)
" ' find the man addressed and say to him that Read-
Head lies in the jail of Stringtown County, charged with
murder that he did not do.' "
I reached out my hand ; she did not put the letter into
it, but held it before my eyes so that I could read the
superscription :
Old Man Holcomb,
Bald Knob, Kentucky.
She turned to depart, preceded by Cupe, who bore the
heavy package of gold ; but before she closed the door I
349
Stringtown on the Pike
spoke again : " Susie, the night is dark. Let us forget
that we have had this difference. May I not go with
you, Susie ? "
" I have no fear of any living person. Of the dead
there is no danger." Then she spoke again one last word
of appeal. " Mr. Drew, as you value human life ■ —
and more lives than one must go if Red-Head dies — I
beg you not to come to the next Court session of
Stringtown County."
I shook my head.
" On your own account I plead with you, do not run
this great risk. Grant me this little favour."
Again I refused, and the next moment, alone with my
thoughts and with my science provings, my beaker
glasses, test tubes and reagents, I stood questioning the
future.
350
CHAPTER LVIII
" POW'fUL INTERESTIN' story " (l JOHN, III)
THE mountains of Eastern Kentucky, their stores
of endless wealth, of mine, of quarry, and of
wood, their picturesque knobs and rocks, valleys, tor-
rents, brooks and solitudes, must one and all be seen to
be appreciated.
There are taller mountain chains than these, and
larger ones, too ; grander canons are to be seen in the
Yellowstone and along the Colorado, and in the Rockies
rise higher bluffs of black and red stone. No lava beds
in these Kentucky mountains speak of volcanic action,
no volcanic peaks cone the sky. The Laurentian chain
of Canada bears endless tear-bound firs, these do not ;
there is no other Tacoma than the one which in Wash-
ington State glitters in the sunlight and commands
homage from both the ocean of waters on the west and
the ocean of sand on the east. And yet while bluff and
ice and snow and fire and lava are not in the Kentucky
Mountains as they are elsewhere, charms there are which
no other chains possess.
The girl who pleaded with the University professor
for the life of Red-Head was now traversing these moun-
tain wilds on the back of a mule. Faithful Cupe trudged
on foot by her side. For some days they had been
beyond the track even of mountain wagon wheels. The
bluffs were either overhanging above or precipitous below,
but always present. The streams were often bank-full,
so that in order to progress long circuits were necessary j
351
Stringtown on the Pike
but still she kept on her way, preceded by a young man,
who spoke but little and seemed concerned only in reach-
ing his destination. At last they neared a deserted cabin,
windowless and roofless. The chimney had fallen, the
logs were decayed and the mud chinking between them
had disappeared. A brook ran in the gulch near it,
while behind stretched a rock-clad hog-back hill that
separated this brook from the stream beyond. Hitching
their horse in the ravine where ran the trail, the young
mountaineer tramped a path to the site of the old cabin,
the girl following.
"Here's the place," he said, "but et ain't no great
shakes."
The girl stood a moment looking at the scene of deso-
lation, and as she did so her mind reverted to the String-
town schoolhouse and to the story of the feud related by
the Red-Headed Boy. The door was gone but frag-
ments of the casing still hung by two beaten iron nails,
and the rests for the iron bar that once held the door
were yet in place in the logs beside the doorway. She
seated herself on the heavy timber sill. Her eyes fell
to the projecting log by her side. A dark blue piece of
metal, partly coated with a white crust, was imbedded in
the end of it, a piece of metal from which the wood had
partly rotted away. With her fingers she scraped the
soft wood mould from about it, and then raised from its
resting-place a flattened weather-corroded minie bullet,
around which still were to be seen the creases that once
held the cartridge shell in place. A shudder came over
her ; she dropped the fragment into her pocket and raised
her eyes ; there in the trail below them, the muzzle of a
long gun in his hand, stood a grizzled old man looking
intently at that picturesque scene — the beautiful girl
seemingly so out of place in the doorway of those ruins.
352
"Pow'ful Interestin' Story"
At this instant the young man caught sight of the
intruder.
" Thet 's him."
" Who ? "
" Old Holcomb."
The girl arose and started back along the trail, this
time preceding her companion, back toward the tall man.
His form was lank and uncouth, his hair thin and white,
his face covered with a crop of beard that had been
roughly trimmed with the scissors. He did not speak,
nor did the girl until she stood close beside him.
" Are you Mr. Holcomb ? "
" I 'm Holcomb."
" I came to bring you a message."
" From who ? "
''An enemy."
" I hain't but one, an' he 's a coward."
The girl's eyes flashed, her fists clenched hard together,
the bullet in her pocket burned the flesh it pressed against.
She took it out and held the disfigured mass of lead
before his face.
" He was n't coward enough to shoot an ounce of
lead through a four-year-old child."
Not a movement did the man make. His eye pierced
her through, but she did not flinch. " An' who be yo'
ter tell Holcomb this; 'dy want ter wedge inter the
feud ? "
" Never mind who I am. I know who you are and
what you did. But I did not seek you to talk over these
things. I came to deliver a message." She took from
her pocket the letter she had already shown to Professor
Drew, and held it out.
Takmg it, but without opening it, the man asked :
" An' hev yo' come fur ? "
'^ 353
Stringtown on the Pike
"From Stringtown."
" Yo' can't git back ter Hawley's claim ter-night, an'
thet 's the nearest stoppin'-place. Yoah shoes air thin
an' yo' air shiverin' like a young lamb in sleety weather.
Yo' wants ter be warmed up an' fed up, an' yo 'd better
go crost the divide ter my cabin, an' we '11 settle the
other matter thar. Yo '11 hev ter stay all night ha'ar-
'bouts."
These words were spoken in a kindly tone, and the
girl realised that he told the truth ; but she knew, too,
that excitement, not cold, was responsible for her shiver-
ing. Mounting their horses, the two travellers followed
the old man to his home.
In the common room, of that cabin, while she sat close
to the fire, he held the letter long in his hands, turning
it about and eyeing it curiously. " Guess yo '11 hev ter
read et ter me," he said ; then tore it open and handed
it to the girl, who complied, reading as follows :
HoLCOMB : I 'm Red-Head. I did n't come back ter the
moun'ns ter finish the feud 'cause I promised Susie not ter fight
lessen she married Drew. Then I 'tended ter whip Drew first
an' shoot yo' next. But I can't do either, fo' I'm in jail.
Drew 's got the pull, too, an' lessen I git help he '11 hang me
fo' killin' a man I did n't kill. I 'm not a pizoner, an' yo'
know et. I 'm not a coward, an' yo' know et. What I wants
is fo' yo' ter come ter Stringtown an' keep me from bein' hung.
You ain't much ov a friend, but yo've got grit an' got sense
an' kin shoot, an' that's the kind ov a friend I needs now.
Yo' know et 'ud disgrace the family yo' fought fer, an' the
family you fought, fer me ter be hung, an' I mussent be hung.
Ef yo'll come, tell Susie, 'n she'll tell me. Come ter the
Stringtown County Court an' stop the hangin' an' end the
feud. Red-Head.
When the girl ceased reading Holcomb took the letter
354
"Pow'ful Interestin' Story"
and scrutinised it again. Evidently his thoughts were
not altogether in ihe present, for after a period of silence
he musingly remarked :
" Ef he 's like his kin, et 's the truth he told when he
said thet he 's not a coward. Them war a brave family,
an' grit, else thar'd been mo'ah 'n one Holcomb livin'."
Turning to the girl, he said abruptly : " I 've sot in
this old cabin nigh onter twenty years waitin' fer Red-
Head. I 've watched the trail in winter an' laid in the
shade in summer fightin' sketers an' flies an' keepin' my
eyes on the path ter git the drop on him befo' he seed
me. But he didn't come. Then I thunk thet he'd
turned coward, but no moun'n Nordman ever showed
the white feather ; 'n he said too when he left : ' Tell
Holcomb I '11 be back when I kin handle a Springfield
gun.' An' when I seed yo' two a-ridin' up the gulch
I felt monstrous good, fer I thought p'raps he 'd come
back, but without his moun'n manners, fer no moun'n
man in a feud would hev rid in the open like yo' did.
An' I saw yo' tramp up ter the old cabin an' sot down
an' pick the bullet out ov the log. Then yo' saw me,
fer I seed thet black-ha'red feller war not Red-Head,
an' stepped inter sight."
The girl shuddered, and the speaker said : " Sit closer
ter the fire, little one ; I 'm pow'ful sorry fer sech
squeemish buds es yo' be." Then he asked : " Red-
Head 's in jail the writin' sez ? "
"Yes."
« Fer killin' a man ? "
" Yes."
" War et on the square ? "
" He did not kill him. Mr. Nordman died suddenly,
and Red-Head was charged with giving him poison."
Holcomb sat in silence a time, and then spoke in
355
Stringtown on the Pike
reverie : *' An' he axes help from Holcomb, me who
wanted to shoot him befo' 1 died, me who killed his
father an' his mother an' his little sister, me who hev
lived alone in this cabin fer twenty years beca'se his gun
an' the guns ov his kin hed killed every other Holcomb
but me. Et 's a shame thet sech a family es his'n an'
sech a family es our'n should be disgraced by the puttin'
ov one ov 'em in jail fer pizonin'. I hates Red-Head
beca'se of the feud, an' I wants ter shoot him pow'ful
much, but ef he gits hung we can't fight et out." Turn-
ing to the girl again, he asked : " Are yo' sure thet he
did n't pizon the man ? "
" I know he did not. He swore to me on his bended
knees that he did not, and — he lores me."
" An' yo' loves him ? "
" I am his friend."
'' Chick " — and the old man reached out his lank
hand and gently stroked her hair — " chick, Holcomb
is awful sorry fer you-uns, fer Holcomb es bound ter
kill thet boy." Then he mused again, " Child, ef
Holcomb '11 swar' off the feud, an '11 go ter Stringtown
an' save Red-Head, will yo' marry Red-Head an' move
ter the moun'ns ? "
The sirl covered her face with her handkerchief.
" An' ef Holcomb '11 make over his property ter
Red-Head an' yo', will yo' name the first boy baby
Holcomb ? "
The girl made no reply, but sobbed quietly.
" Thar ain't no use in sayin' nuthin' mo'ah; you-uns
understands we-uns, an' yo' may go back ter Stringtown
an' say ter Red-Head these words : ' Old Holcomb says,
says he, thet he '11 be on hand when the day comes fer
business, an' that he'll save the honour ov the two families
one way er nuther.' Now stop yer cryin', little one, fer
356
"Pow'ful Interestin' Story"
thar ain't no danger ov the shame ov hangin' come'n
ter Red-Head."
When " early candle-light " appeared, which was the
time for retiring, Holcomb brought an antiquated book
from out the cupboard, a copy of a Bible that had
once been much used, " Et have been many a day
sense a woman sot in this cabin. Thet 's the Bible
ov my gran'mam, whose great gran' mam brought et
from Inglan'. After she died et war read by my wife
every night, an' war being read by her that night when
Red-Head's dad shot through the winder 'n killed our
boy, who wah pow'ful religious, too." He turned the
leaves of the book, evidently seeking a certain chapter,
but as he could not read, Susie wondered how he ex-
pected to locate it. Suddenly he stopped. " Thet 's
the place now." A great brown blot of irregular
shape was splotched over one of the yellowed sheets.
" Thet 's the blood ov the boy. Mam never finished
the chapter, she could n't b'ar ter look at the place ag'in.
I 've wanted ter hev et read out fer twenty years, fer
et 's a pow'ful interestin' story. Ef yo' '11 jest read the
chapter out we '11 hev prayers, an' then yo' kin go ter
bed in the nex' room." And when Susie had finished
reading the " pow'ful interestin' story " ( i John, iii.)
Holcomb said : " Them 's my sentiments too," then
kneeled and offered up prayers in a homely way that
spoke of his earnestness and faith in the teachings of
his parents, "Now, chick," said Holcomb, "yo''ll
sleep in the nex' room, 'n this young feller 'n me '11
sleep in this 'n. The nigger kin go ter the outside
cabin."
" Ef yo' please, sah, Mr. Holcom', de nigger '11 jes lie
down befo' de doah ob de room de chile sleeps in. He
doan 'tend ter run no risk ob cotchin' cole in de wood-
357
Stringtown on the Pike
shed, an' he doan 'tend ter hab de chile in one house an'
Cupe be in de uddah. Ef de Susie gearl speaks in de
night, Cupe '11 be in his place befo' de doah."
Next morning the three persons, old Holcomb in
front, returned along the mountain trail. All day long,
with his heavy rifle over his shoulder, the old man con-
tinued in the advance ; finally, near sundown, he relin-
quished his charge to a man who stood before a double
cabin near the road, and who in some manner had been
advised of their approach and was expecting them.
" Yo '11 stop fer the night ha'ar, an' in the mornin' he '11
see yo' ter the next stop. Thar ain't no danger ter yo'
in these moun'ns now, fer Holcomb hev passed the word
'long thet yo 're his friend an' air ter be shown ter the
stage line. Et 's sure death ter the feller what troubles
yo'."
Taking the hand of the girl in his rough palm, the old
man again stroked her hair with the other, as he had done
in the cabin, gently, tenderly ; then in a low tone, very
low, said : " An' yo '11 name the first boy Holcomb,
won't yo', jest fer the honour ov the two families, an' fer
the sake ov the old man who hain't no kin left ter leave
his name to ? " Then without waiting a reply, he added :
" Tell Red-Head ter rest easy, fer Holcomb '11 be on
hand an' stop the hangin' sure ; ef thar ain't one way
ter do et, thar air another ; thar '11 not be no disgrace of
hanging on yo-uns an' we-uns, child." He turned and
left the party in the hands of their new protector, and in
the dusk of evening passed from sight up the gorge that
led back into the higher mountains.
358
CHAPTER LIX
"more lives than one must go if red-head
DIES "
THE day arrived for me, the chemist of the Univer-
sity, to return to Stringtown on my professional
errand, and I decided to start the week previous to the
convening of the quarterly Court. Carefully collecting
the reagents, apparatus and the specimens of the contents
of the suspected stomach, I next fortified myself with my
books of authority. These were packed in a specially
arranged valise, which, I may add, I did not this time
lug across the Suspension Bridge which stretched be-
tween Cincinnati and Covington.
Sleepy old Stringtown was reached at last, and there
at the door of our old home stood my mother. She was
feeble now — I caught that fact from afar — her hair,
too, was very white. I shall say nothing regarding our
meeting, which concerns ourselves alone. That even-
ing 1 walked down the narrow sidewalk toward the
grocery store of Mr. Cumback, meeting a few old
friends on the way and several strangers. I opened the
door of the grocery, the door against the glass of which
years before I had seen the white face of a rebel soldier
press ; that very pane of glass was in place, for I recog-
nised it by a well-known blemish across its centre. A
circle of men sat around the old stove, and Mr. Cum-
back stood behind the counter. Most of the members
were new to me, although three of the old-time partici-
359
Stringtown on the Pike
pants were present. But how changed ! Judge Elford
was grand in his venerable, patriarchal appearance, very
feeble but his intellectuality had not diminished ; white
was every thread of his beard and of his flowing hair.
He arose as I entered and grasped my hand ; his eye
pierced me through, but very kindly was that eye-
greeting. ^' Welcome back to Stringtown, Sammy," he
said; " these years we have been expecting you on old
friendship's account, but now that you come on profes-
sional business we are not less delighted to greet you.
You honour us, my boy. We have kept watch of
your upward course, and hope that you will never forget
that your land is Kentucky, that you were once a
Stringtown boy, and that here you have many friends."
Then Professor Drake took his turn, giving my hand a
gentle grasp. " Sorry you did not come last night, Mr.
Drew, for I read a paper on evolution and talked about
that very interesting subject. You could have given us
much information concerning it. Don't fail to help
your old friends by a good word, Samuel, whenever
occasion permits it."
360
CHAPTER LX
TROUBLE IN STRINGTOWN COUNTY COURT
JUDGE ELFORD arose, and locking his arm in
mine moved toward the door, as he did so excusing
both of us to the circle. " Mr. Drew will return an-
other evening," he remarked. " I would speak to him
in the quiet of my home to-night." Something in the
tone of his voice led me to know that he wished to talk
seriously in private, and as if to impress the fact more
emphatically, we walked in silence to his home.
," Did you notice the tall, white-haired man who left
the room before we did ? " he abruptly asked.
"Yes."
" That man has been in Stringtown for a week. He
stops at the tavern, but has no business here, unless it
be in connection with this case in which you are con-
cerned. He has been asking questions of all kinds re-
garding Red-Head and yourself, and has inquired into
every detail of the poisoning affair. He has interested
himself in Red-Head's record since he came among us
as a boy. That he is not alone is shown by the fact
that many uncouth men call to see him, but they soon
depart. The rumour has gotten out that he is a friend
of Red-Head, from the mountains, and that a scheme
for the boy's rescue is contemplated."
" And how am I concerned. Judge ? "
" That I shall now tell you, Sammy. Would to God
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Stringtown on the Pike
you had kept out of this case ! You were asked to re-
main away from Stringtown until after Court week, were
you not ? " His eyes were upon me.
"Yes."
" And the messenger told you that such was also my
desire and advice .'' "
"Yes."
" Did you forget that twice you promised to follow
my advice when the time arrived for me to serve you by
asking you to grant me a favour ? "
1 made no reply.
" As a judge, sworn to do the duty of a judge to this
great Commonwealth of Kentucky, I could not well do
more. As a friend to you, I could not do less. Why
did you not take the advice of your two friends ? " Be-
fore I could answer, had I any reply to make, he contin-
ued : " Ugly things are being said in Stringtown. The
people of Stringtown County, too, are concerned in this
case, more so even than when old Cupe was tried for
stealing the gold. There are factions among us, and
some viciousness begins to creep out ; not that Red-Head
has made friends, but that this thing of sending outside
the State for an expert to testify against one of our citi-
zens is an innovation."
" But why do they accept that my testimony will
be against him ? "
" Because you are engaged by the prosecution, and
people believe that chemical experts sell their evidence
and give their testimony to support the claims of the side
that engages them ; and," he added, " it also seems to
me that expert chemical testimony is not always on the
highest moral plane."
" But I surely found strychnine. Judge ; should I not
give my evidence ? "
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Trouble in Stringtown Court
" It is now too late to retreat, and for this reason I
would speak to you in confidence, Sammy. Your father
was my friend ; you need advice, as I once felt you
might, and even though I am to be the judge of this
case, I am in duty bound to give it."
" You have my thanks for your interest, and I regret
now that I did not take the hint you sent by Susie."
"• Had I not believed that you would listen to her
pleadings, I might have made it stronger, but it is now
too late. Sammy," he continued, " are you satisfied con-
cerning the chemical provings you have made ? "
"I am."
" Is it not probable, or at least possible, that you place
too great credence in statements made by authorities in
whom you confide .'' "
"No, for I have verified the reactions."
" May not conditions unknown to you induce other
bodies than strychnine to give the same reactions ? "
" Positively not."
" Are you " — he hesitated slightly — " proof against
prejudice that on the one hand binds you to blind confi-
dence in scientific methods, and on the other hand leads
you to desire to help the side that secured your services ? "
I winced, for I felt the thrust even through the kindly
tone of the judge.
" I am a man of science, and free from prejudice."
" The faith you men of science have in human au-
thority, and the sneers you cast on the Supreme Ruler,
and the dogmatic conclusions of men who search in fields
your science is too feeble to invade, seem to me very
near man-worship or egotistical fanaticism. Sir" —
he spoke severely now — "I fail to see the difference
between your blind allegiance to ever-changing science
and the fanatical faith of a superstitious slave bound to
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Stringtown on the Pike
signs and omens, which result from the empirical obser-
vation of cycles of phenomena ; but let that thought pass
and turn to your own self. Are you free from human
error ? "
" Yes, in this case, for I have gone over the reactions
again and again,"
" Enough, Sammy, enough ; would that I, too, felt
this same confidence in man's infallibility and in the sci-
ence that holds you in her toils. I am an old man, my
child, and have met many dramatic and pathetic experi-
ences. I have seen men shot in the heat of passion, and
have sentenced men to the gallows on the testimony of
witnesses who saw the plunge of the knife or the flash
of the pistol held by the murderer. But never yet have
I been forced to condemn a man to the gallows on the
evidence of a person who was in another State at the
time of the murder, who not only did not see the crime
committed, but who knew nothing about its occurrence.
And, Sammy, while duty to the Commonwealth will not
permit me ever to shrink from doing my duty to man
and men, in all earnestness I pray God to strike me dead
before on the expert testimony of Samuel Drew I am
forced to hang this boy. Mark well your words, Sammy ;
on them rests a human life. A defenceless man to whom
life is sweet lies now in the Stringtown County jail, —
one from whom no man has the right unlawfully to take
one bright day. Mark well, too, the position of your old
friend, the judge, who begs you to err on the side of hu-
manity rather than to do a wrong in the belief that sci-
ence is infallible. Give this helpless man the benefit of
every doubt, whether it humiliates your science, disturbs
your dogmatism, or checks your ambition. In after
years you will find that you have made no mistake."
I arose to go, arose without conceding that there was
364
Trouble in Stringtown Court
a chance for me to err or relent. At the door the judge
held my hand long, and after bidding me good-bye said,
in the most earnest tone I had ever known him to use :
" God grant, Samuel Drew, that you do not cause me
to hang an innocent man ; " and after I had passed from
his door he called me back. " Sammy, there will be
trouble next week ; bear up bravely, dare to do right
even though it be at ambition's expense. Sammy," and
his voice sank very low, almost to a whisper, as his lips
spoke into my ear, " keep what I say in confidence.
The old man you saw leave the grocery is named Hol-
comb ; he came to me last night and I drew up his will.
He left all his possessions, both real and personal, to
Red-Head and Susie, share and share alike ; but said
he, ' In case Red-Head dies — and he may die suddenly,
but will never be hung — it must all go to the girl Susie.'
There '11 be trouble in Stringtown County Court next
week, Sammy."
I attempted to withdraw my hand, but the speaker
firmly held it and continued :
" This is Kentucky, not Ohio ; Kentucky, Sammy."
From the door of Judge Elford I turned with heavy
heart and lagging footstep toward the home of my
mother, realising now that the coming week would bring
a death crisis to some one I knew, and for the first time
I appreciated the fact that I was not a mere onlooker.
These closing words were in my mind when I raised
my eyes from the ground because of a step that sounded
on the stones ahead of me. A tall form came into the
moonlight, passed me close and disappeared behind me.
It was the old man from the mountains.
365
CHAPTER LXI
SUSIE, RED-HEAD, AND MYSELF AGAIN
THE morning of the trial dawned, and I entered the
special bus that had been engaged to take two
attorneys, the judge, a few close friends of these gentle-
men — a few jurymen among them — and myself to
Court. It was the way that I had passed to the trial
of Cupe.
I looked neither to the right nor to the left as we
passed through the village, but followed Judge Elford to
the court-house, where I felt a sensation of relief as I
entered the portals of that stone building, with its great
round pillars in front and its iron-barred jail in the rear.
I then held my final audience with the prosecuting
attorney, and at last stepped into the court-room of
Stringtown County.
The judge sat in his place exactly as he did when
last I saw him, years ago, in that same seat. Time had
enfeebled him physically, but not mentally, for that fine
intellectual face and placid brow were surely the more
impressive by reason of the lines that age had deepened,
and by the touch of brighter silver left in his snow-white
beard and hair.
The jury was in its place, its members typical of the
former jury before which in this very room I had been
a witness ; some of them may have been the same indi-
viduals. Before each man stood that ever-present box
of sawdust, and from the movement of their jaws or the
366
Susie, Red-Head, and Myself
pouched cheek it could be seen that none needed to be
instructed concerning the object of these utensils. I
seated myself by the side of the prosecuting attorney,
and then raised my eyes to the chair where sat the man
charged with murder, the very place and apparently the
same chair in which Cupe once sat. His hair was red
as of yore, sorrel-red, like no other hair I had ever seen ;
his eyes were fixed on my face, those same little yellow
eyes ; his red ears and that florid face covered with
freckles were before me again, lanker and longer was
that crimson neck. I looked him square in the eye,
and then my glance, not his, fell to the floor, but not
before I caught a glimpse of a gentle movement of the
left ear, the mocking movement familiar in other years,
and I knew that he yet defied me.
When next I raised my eyes they caught the form of
the sheriff, who with a brace of pistols in his leather belt
stood close to the prisoner, and then I turned to the
audience. The room was filled with men, and no one
needed to tell me they were from both near and far.
I recognised many Stringtown men, I also saw many
whom I felt were men of Stringtown County, and there,
too, sat the tall man from the mountains of Kentucky.
In full view of the prisoner, neither seemed to notice
the other. He was flanked on either side by a line of
men dressed in the same manner as himself; indeed, I
should say that he formed the central figure of a group
distinct from our home folks, but they seemed not to
know each other.
And then my eyes turned toward the front row,
scanning each face until they rested on that of one I
had not thought to meet again in the Court of String-
town County. There sat Susie, her eyes fixed on
space. My heart fluttered and I wished that instead
367
Stringtown on the Pike
of sitting by the prosecutor I were in the place of old
negro Cupe, who sat by her side. Then came a mental
inventory, and by a mind-flash I saw that we three,
Susie, Red-Head and myself, were once more con-
fronting one another and our fate ; and I saw too, that
seemingly we had drawn into the turmoil all who both
loved and hated us, and it seemed to me as though, be it
superstition or not, every condition necessary to a tragic
end of one or all was now perfected. I knew the nature
of the men about, I knew that many men had but to
put their hands inside their coats to defend their honour
or their friends, and I realised, too, that every man
present knew both his enemy and his friend ; but no
evidence of this fact could be seen in face or action.
Then I turned again to Judge Elford, he whom every
man in the room respected, he who stood now before
all this assemblage sworn to sift the right from the
wrong, and who I knew — for he had told me so —
believed that before this case closed some of those
present would have seen their last of earth.
The case opened in the usual way, and interest soon
centred in the evidence that came rapidly before the
Court and jury. The prosecution announced that it
intended to prove that poison was the cause of Mr.
Nordman's death and that the drug had been purchased
by the prisoner, and administered by him to the victim.
To this the attorneys for the defence interposed a denial,
feebly it seemed to me, although it is possible that being
in the dark concerning the nature of the evidence to be
offered, they could not in opening make their denial
stronger. As the trial progressed it could be seen that
the judge proposed to confine both parties to a strict
statement of fact, for every attempt to interject side
issues or to go into personalities was skilfully defeated
368
Susie, Red-Head, and Myself
by his rulings, and yet the day passed before the prose-
cutor was ready to call me as a witness. Every step
was tenaciously combated by counsel for the defence,
who, as the theory of the prosecution unfolded itself,
became aggressively violent and left no stone unturned
in his attempt to discredit a witness or cast a doubt on
the evidence. When time for adjournment came that
night, the prosecution had proven :
First. That Red-Head and Mr. Nordman had quar-
relled a few days previously to his death. It was
shown that, out of patience with his indolent habits,
Mr. Nordman had that day scolded him for not work-
ing. The witness who testified to this stripped tobacco
in Mr. Nordman's barn and heard every word of the
altercation, and also heard Red-Head swear that he
would be revenged.
Second. The village druggist testified that he sold
Red-Head one-eighth ounce of strychnine. His book of
poison sales on which the entry had been made and dated
was produced and admitted as evidence. The prisoner
had stated that the strychnine was for Mr. Nordman,
who desired to put it in the carcass of a lamb that had
been killed by foxes, which latter he hoped to kill when
they returned to feed, the coming night.
Third. The servants testified that Mr. Nordman
arose in good health the morning of his death, ate a light
breakfast, as was his habit, and that Red-Head alone
breakfasted with him. Very soon thereafter he was
stricken with a severe pain in the stomach, and then
they gave him a dose of laudanum and called the
physician.
Fourth. The physician testified that he found Mr.
Nordman in great pain, muscular convulsions having set
in and paralysis of the legs. He administered an emetic,
24 369
Stringtown on the Pike
to which, however, the patient did not freely respond.
In reply to a direct question of the prosecutor, the wit-
ness said that the case presented all the symptoms of
strychnine poisoning.
This closed the evidence of the day, and I was in-
formed by the prosecution that my testimony would be
taken immediately after Court convened the next
morning.
370
CHAPTER LXII
" THE FEUD IS OVER, HOLCOMB "
THAT night I awoke often, for in my ears rang
again and again the words of Judge Elford :
" You will hang the prisoner, Sammy."
That sentence still dominated my mind when Court
convened next morning; but when I looked at the pre-
siding judge no evidence of emotion on his part could be
seen ; passive and composed he sat looking about the
room, apparently as unconscious of personal responsibility
as any of the spectators. I seated myself by the side of
the prosecutor and proceeded to arrange my specimens,
reagents and the apparatus. The eyes of all in the
Court were now concentrated on me, even to that of
the prisoner, who, scarce ten feet distant, sat beside the
armed sheriff. Seemingly absorbed in manipulative
operations, I yet noticed every movement of those about
me ; from time to time I raised my eyes only to catch
the fixed gaze of whomsoever they rested on, whereso-
ever they turned — jurymen, sheriff, attorney for the
prosecution and for the defence, Holcomb from the
mountains, Cupe, Red-Head and Susie, all — all I say
but one, Judge Elford. He seemed unconcerned regard-
ing either my presence or my movements.
That he awaited my convenience I knew, and that
this famous case had drawn itself down and had focussed
itself on me I also knew. Amid intense stillness, friend
and foe, faction, feudist, judge, prisoner and jury were
371
Stringtown on the Pike
awaiting my voice. I turned my eyes to the jury ; not
a mouth was in motion, firm set were each pair of jaws,
never before had such a thing been known in Kentucky.
The last touch was given the vessels before me, and then
I whispered to the attorney by whose side I sat : " I am
ready," and raised my eyes to the face of the judge,
who, catching the movement, without awaiting voice to
bid him open the Court, bade me arise. A strange inno-
vation did he then make, an innovation that struck me
to the heart ; for instead of turning me over to the clerk
to be sworn, as had been done with all other witnesses,
he too arose, and before him I held up my hand, and
from him came in deep, measured tones the question of
that solemn oath : " Do you solemnly swear to tell the
truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth .? "
" I do."
My voice startled me. If any man who reads these
lines could have been in my place, he too would have
been startled by that first word. The past, with its pre-
sentiments and omens, now crystallising into form, the
midnight pleadings of the girl I loved, the solemn advice
of Judge Elford, yet were in my ear. The ominous
circle before me, the doubt concerning the reception of
my testimony, and lastly the pensive face of Susie to my
right and the hateful face of Red-Head to my left were
enough to dispossess one more experienced. But the
sensation that followed these words passed and in the
calm that followed I became myself, ready to protect my
reputation. I looked at Red-Head ; his gaze was fixed
on me ; our eyes met, and I saw in them the full
measure of hate I felt in my own heart ; and then I
said to myself: "If I don't hang that fellow he will
shoot me dead when next we meet. If brain does not
conquer now, it will be muscles' turn next." Point by
372
"The Feud is Over, Holcomb"
point the prosecution drew from me the statement that I
had examined the suspected liquid for all known poisons,
both inorganic and organic. And then I was led to the
reactions of strychnine and to its location among the
poisons. These I gave in detail, the particulars of which
need not be repeated, and finally I was asked :
" Did you get those reactions from the substance
tested ? "
" 1 did."
" Have you specimens of the substance ? "
" I have."
" Can you show the jury and the Court the group test
for alkaloids and also the colour of reactions of strych-
nine ? "
" I can."
" I ask, then, that Professor Drew be allowed to cor-
roborate his testimony by experiments that will substanti-
ate his words ; " and on this point, after a legal battle
with the attorneys for the defence, the judge ruled in
our favour. Then I made the tests for alkaloids with
the group reagents showing the presence of alkaloids.
Next I made the respective colour test with morphine
which did not respond and then with strychnine which
did, each juryman craning his neck close about me in
order to get a good view of the purple or blue-violet
colour that sprang into existence in that porcelain dish,
where the strychnine test was applied, to fade away into
green and red.
" That is the reaction of strychnine," I said, and
proved it by means of a crystal of pure strychnine.
Then came the final question : " You swear that you
found strychnine in the contents of that stomach ? "
"I do."
Opposing counsel now viciously assailed me, but to
373
Stringtown on the Pike
no avail, for I brought forth my authorities and showed
that this test was accepted by chemists of the world, and
that Fowne, Fresenius, Turner, all considered it conclu-
sive, and at last triumphant, I was dismissed.
Judge Elford now came down from his chair. " Re-
peat the tests that I may see them close," he said. He
stood over me, and side by side, both with strychnine
and the suspected substance, I gave the test for alkaloids
and also the colour test for strychnine. The same violet-
blue colour came with both.
" Will no other substance produce that reaction ? "
" None."
" This is a great world ; there are many countries in
it ; do none of the thousands of forms of vegetation in
these various lands act as does this substance ? " He
spoke into my very ear.
" Not to my knowledge. Science says no."
" The servants administered a dose of laudanum, and
laudanum contains morphine. Is not morphine an
alkaloid ? "
" Yes ; I have testified to the fact that I also obtained
the colour reaction of morphine, but that alkaloid will
not give this strychnine reaction. Morphine is present,
so is strychnine."
" Have you tried this test with every plant, shrub,
tree, leaf, root, bark, fruit, that grows ? "
« No, sir ! "
" Have you tried it with all that grow in Stringtown
County ? "
" No, sir ! "
" Have you tried it with all that grow in and about
Stringtown village ? "
" No, sir ! "
" Have you applied this test to every form of herb,
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"The Feud is Over, Holcomb"
fruit, vegetable, grass, leaf, that grows on the farm of
the late Mr. Nordman ? "
" No, sir ! "
" Or in his dooryard ? "
" No, sir ! "
" Can you, then, in the face of the fact that you have
not tested these myriads of other substances, swear that
this is strychnine ? "
" On the strength of these authorities " — I pointed
to my books — " and on my investigations, and on the
fact that no other known bodies produce the same reac-
tions, I can."
" You revived the strychnine crystals, it seems " —
he pointed to the microscopic slide.
" Yes, sir ! "
" Will no other substance produce such needle-like
crystals ? "
" I know of none to do so and then react as they do."
" Would it not have been well to get from the con-
tents of that stomach enough of the pure strychnine
to kill a rabbit, and show its poisonous action in that
way ? "
" I had not enough of the material."
" You are willing " — and now the judge spoke very
slowly and deliberately — "you are willing, then, Samuel
Drew, before Almighty God, knowing that on your
words hangs the life of a human being, to swear that
strychnine, only strychnine, nothing but strychnine,
could have produced that reaction ? "
" I am."
The eyes of the man of justice fell upon his book,
and he made a note. I turned my eyes to the prisoner ;
he sneered in return. I sought the face of Susie, but no
expression other than sadness could be seen. Then the
375
Stringtown on the Pike
attorney said, " The witness may be excused," and I
turned my gaze upon the floor. After the cross-exam-
ination which did not in any way break the force of the
evidence the case was ready for the defence, the prosecu-
tion having proved :
First. Mr. Nordman and Red-Head had quarrelled.
Second. Red-Head had bought strychnine of the vil-
lage druggist.
Third. Mr. Nordman had been suddenly stricken by
a severe pain in his stomach, accompanied by paroxysmal
muscular contractions.
Fourth. Strychnine was present in the contents of the
stomach.
But night was on us again, and Court now adjourned.
The next day was consumed in evidence for the defence,
then came the rebuttal by the prosecution, which right
was waived.
The fourth morning found the audience in place ; had
photographs been taken, the same faces would have been
seen in the same places, so far as the persons directly
interested in the case were concerned. I do not like to
reflect over the address of the attorney for the defence,
who, following the opening speech of the prosecution,
and realising that the evidence was against him, turned
all his eloquence in the direction of emotional humanity.
He depicted the unfortunate position of the homeless,
helpless young man before us. He pictured my conspic-
uous place in life ; he drew the sympathies of that audi-
ence to the prisoner, and upon me he directed their ill-will
and scowls. Hatred flashed from many an eye as he
took that little porcelain dish in his hand, and said :
" That man comes here from the North, he touches a
liquid with a bit of stuff, and it turns blue, violet-blue,
for an instant. He asks you, men of Stringtown County,
376
"The Feud is Over, Holcomb"
CO hang a resident of Stringtown County because this
blue colour cornea in a dish. Kentuckians, did ever
Kentucky Court witness such a farce ? When a man
plunges a knife into another, a witness may swear to the
fact, for that is evidence of fact. When a witness
swears that he saw the flash of the gun or pistol, and saw
the victim fall, that is competent testimony ; but when a
man comes from afar and touches a dish with a glass
rod, and asks you to hang a Kentuckian because a spot
of porcelain turns purple, that is audacious presumption,
and is neither evidence nor testimony. Kentuckians, I
swear by all that is holy, that if you become a party to
this monstrous crime, a few dollars hereafter will hire a
horde of hungry chemists from the North to show a
colour in a dish to whoever cares wrongly to gain an in-
heritance or wishes to hang an enemy. There will
scarcely be time to keep the gallows oiled, so rapid will
be the hangings in Kentucky. No rich man will rest in
his grave with a whole stomach, for these ghouls will
find chemists to swear that all who die are poisoned."
Turning to me, he shook his finger in my face.
" There sits a man who lived once in Stringtown, who
should love his village and his State, but who comes back
to us to hang the companion of his youth. He and the
prisoner were boys together, they sat in the same school-
house, played in the same schoolyard, lived in the same
village. One is a /«<?«, the other a chetjiist ! but I say
in all earnestness, that I would rather be the innocent
Kentuckian who hangs — the man^ my friends — than the
renegade who hangs him ! " The attack was vicious, and
I realised that his words could move men to violence had
no violence been previously contemplated. Why did
Judge Elford allow this personal attack, some persons
may ask ? It was not his place to prevent the defence
377
Stringtown on the Pike
from breaking my testimony by any method possible,
and when the attorney was through I realised that, re-
gardless of the verdict, I was disgraced in the land of my
old home, and I felt, too, that men present were ready,
perhaps by violence, to take the part of Red-Head,
should the jury decide that he must hang.
But the closing argument of the prosecution modified
conditions somewhat, and the charge of the judge to the
jury was so clear and comprehensive as to leave no cause
of complaint by either party.
" The evidence is circumstantial, but it is necessarily
so in cases such as this, for those who poison others are
never seen to do the act. They are like thugs who lie
concealed in the night and deal a man a blow from be-
hind. And yet," he added, "not only must the jury be
convinced beyond a doubt that the prisoner bought the
strychnine, but that strychnine was in the stomach, and
that the prisoner administered it. If such has been
proven by the testimony offered, the prisoner is as much
subject to the severest penalty of the law as though he
had fired a bullet into the victim."
Much more did this learned man say to those who
held the life of the prisoner in their hands; coolly, im-
partially, clearly, was the charge given. After the judge
concluded that afternoon the jury retired, and then we
sat awaiting their return, — sat until the evening's shad-
ows were nearly on us.
No longer an object of attention, I changed my place
to one of less conspicuity. I drew my chair back into a
corner made by the witness box and the prisoner's raised
platform, and from that position found that I could
observe the entire room, and be less exposed to peering
eyes. To my left sat the judge, to my right, in the
"The Feud is Over, Holcomb "
second row of spectators, sat Susie and Cupe, and
directly in front of me the prisoner. By his side stood
the sheriff with exposed pistols ready for a touch, and
beyond these two, nearly in line with them, sat old man
Holcomb amid his men from the mountains. When I
looked at Red-Head, I could see the sheriff and Hol-
comb, for they were all in line and covered by the same
field of vision. Buzzing voices broke now upon the ear,
for during the recess the tongues of the men of String-
town and of Stringtown County were loosed. I fancied,
too, that many coats that had been buttoned previously
were now open, but this may have been fancy.
How would these men take the verdict of the jury in
case it was against the prisoner ? What would be their
programme ? I looked at Holcomb ; he made no move-
ment, nor yet did any of his clan. Red-Head sat impas-
sive ; Susie's eyes were downcast; Cupe seemed to be
asleep ; Judge Elford rested his head on his hand, and
tapped the desk gently with a pencil ; the armed sheriff
stood upright and still. Then at last came a message
to the judge, who sent back an order, and soon the jury
filed slowly into the room and stood in line while the
foreman presented a folded paper :
" We do hereby find the prisoner guilty of murder in
the first degree."
Then Judge Elford rose, and as he did so I caught his
glance, and so did others, for he swept his eyes about the
room, resting them now and then on a face. Finally
they turned to the prisoner. " Stand up, prisoner," and
Red-Head arose.
Slowly, distinctly, the judge pronounced the sentence
of death. Had I been the murderer the message could
not have affected nor shocked me more. Not a muscle
did Red-Head move, not a tremor in his frame, not an
379
Stringtown on the Pike
evidence of fear or shame did he exhibit. And when
the words were spoken, " I do hereby sentence you to
be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and may God
have mercy on your soul ! " he gave no show of emotion.
But I saw him glance toward old Holcomb, who then
awkwardly arose, a picturesque figure, and amid silence
as intense as that in which Cupe figured in this same
room many years before, he politely asked of the judge :
" Is thar no hope fer the boy, Jedge ? Kin an old
friend from the moun'ns do nuthin' fer the lad ? "
" Nothing."
'' Ef I '11 go down ter whar he stan's an' take his
place — will yo' let the boy go free ? "
" I cannot."
" Et 's a life yo' wants, yo' man ov law, a life fer a
life, but et seems ter me thet et ain't fair ter take a
young one fer thet ov the old man who bed lived his'n
away. I 'm old, Jedge, an' the boy 's young ; take me 'n
let him live et out."
" I cannot."
" He 's the last ov his fam'ly, Jedge, an' I 'm the last
ov mine. Thar ain't no hopes fer me, but the boy hes
prospects."
The judge shook his head.
Holding out his left hand and pointing his long finger
at the upright prisoner, whom he faced, the old man
slowly said : " He an' his'n killed every Holcomb but
me, an' me an' mine killed every moun'n Nordman but
him Thar's a feud betwixt him an' me, an' et must
be fought ter the end fer the honor ov the two fam'lies
what 's dead."
Then came a movement so quick that I, who had
both Holcomb and the prisoner in line, hardly caught its
import before the deed was done. The right hand of
380
''The Feud is Over, Holcomb."
the old man suddenly drew a pistol from some unseen
pocket, and with one sweep of the arm discharged it full
into the chest of Red-Head, who, with eye close fixed
on the speaker, as that movement was begun, caught
one of the weapons from out the belt of the sheriff.
Younger, quicker and more expert, his hand was not less
sure ; the two flashes lighted the room as if but one, the
two reports were simultaneous.
A drop of blood sprang into view, just in the centre
of the forehead of the old man, who dropped lifeless into
the arms of his companions. The prisoner stood up-
right ; his face turned white, his lips moved slowly, and
as by a mighty effort he said : " The feud is over,
Holcomb." He struggled to stand, and murmured : " I
did n't pizon Uncle Nordman ; I shoots like a man ;
et 's a lie, I say." Then he sank slowly into his seat,
raised his head by one last effort and muttered : " Bury
me beside ov little Sissie in the mou'ns, and bury the
doll with me. I hain't no other friends but Susie and
the doll."
I, who sat near him, heard every word and saw every
movement he made. That flash came from a weapon
which did not rest, that bullet went straight to its mark
in the dusk of evening from a moving pistol ; and then
I thought of the five holes in a circle around a centre
shot made on a mark in the Stringtown schoolyard in
the years that had passed.
381
CHAPTER LXIII
A STRANGE LOVE-STORY
NEITHER the next day nor yet the day following
did I return to the University. I had arranged
for an absence of two weeks, and of this three days
remained. Fortunate is it that this was so, for I was
not in condition to attend to my class duties. The
tragic ending of that trial unnerved me. In the privacy
of my home I repented over and again of my course in
the matter of this expert testimony ; not that I had any
question concerning its scientific accuracy and truthful-
ness, but because I appreciated that I had gone out of
my way to assume a responsibility I could easily have
declined. The penitence I did involved no change of
character, and probably had I to do the work over again
I would have made no change of conduct. The vicious
personal attack of that lawyer for the defence ran ever
through my ears, the pleadings of Susie in my laboratory
the night of the storm, and the generous entreaty of
Judge Elford in the privacy of his home — in which he
asked God to strike him lifeless rather than that he
should be forced to make a death charge on the expert
testimony of a chemist — would not be quieted. To
this may be added the effect produced by the dramatic
climax of the trial and the last words of Red-Head,
spoken when, for the first time, the only time, his skin
was white. I visited no one in Stringtown, I saw no
382
A Strange Love-Story
one, and yet, I r-^peat, not yet was it remorse that pos-
sessed me. The second day of my seclusion passed, and
late that afternoon came a double surprise. Old Cupe
appeared bearing a letter to my mother, who retired from
the room to read it, leaving Cupe standing near where I
was seated. I exchanged a pleasantry with the negro,
to which he replied in his usual polite manner. Then
he added :
" Ma'se Samuel, yo '11 'scuse de ole man ef he ax a
quistion ? "
" Surely, Cupe."
" Et seems t' de fool nigger es ef Red-Head might
hab been alibe had he gone back t' de mount'ns 'bout
ten yeahs ago ? "
« Yes, Cupe."
" An' he would hab gone but fo' Susie."
" Probably."
" An' ef yo' had not come back t' tole de trufF 'bout de
pizon, recken de jidge might hab let him gone scott free ? "
« Possibly."
" De fool sign what yo' might hab fergot 'bout said
dat Red-Head 'ud die sudden an' dat Susie an' yo' 'ud
be de cause ob et. Fool sign, nigger sign, yo' know."
" Yes."
" But et 's monstrous cu'yus how et jes happened t'
come true — "
At this point my mother returned and dismissed the
negro, who did not have a chance to finish his " quis-
tion," but he had said enough to illustrate that he still
watched the record of the evil omen.
" Sammy," began my mother, " I hope to-morrow in
part to repair the wrong I did when I forbade you meet-
ing Miss Susie Manley."
" Miss Susie Manley ? " I asked in surprise.
383
Stringtown on the Pike
"Yes, my son."
" Explain yourself, mother."
" The girl known as Susie, the adopted daughter of
the dissolute Corn Bug, was in reality the child of his
half-brother, Mr. Manley, who met her mother at a
Northern watering-place. He kept the matter secret,
but in some manner Judge Elford learned of it, and at
once visited that part of New York State to investigate
the subject. He found that Mr. Manley became in-
volved in a love affair with this woman and married her
in secret very soon after the death of his first wife — so
soon that publicity would have been a reflection on him-
self and a humiliation to his children. For this reason
perhaps, absolute secrecy was observed by him. The
judge states that he acted cruelly, even to leading her to
believe she was not married, and brutally driving her
from his door, but that was years ago, and no good to
the living can come of uncovering those inc' 'ents. The
sinful man went down to sudden death without having
done the child justice. Judge Elford found the record
in New York State clear and perfect, and on his written
statement, and a legal process as well, the girl has come
into her own good name and her share of the father's
fortune. This I did not tell you sooner, knowing that
you were worried over the case in which you were to be
a witness. But that professional subject is now off your
mind, and the future only concerns you."
" Mother, I thank you for telling me this, but I asked
no Court record to give me the privilege of loving Susie,
nor could I love her better had she a hundred birth cer-
tificates from the Court and from Society. You are too
late, however, in voicing your good intentions, for the
girl loved another; he is dead, and I testified against him.
She will never forgive me — never ! that I well know."
384
A Strange Love-Story
" Susie will dine with us to-morrow ; she has accepted
my invitation. Cupe brought the note. This is a sur-
prise that I had in store for you, but for good reasons I
did not speak of it before receiving her acceptance of my
invitation."
" Susie corning here to dine with us ; are you sure of
it, mother ? "
" Read her answer."
" And yet, mother, I cannot believe she will, be pleased
to have me present. I fear the result of our meeting may
be painful to both of us."
" My child, you do not understand women. They
are not always what they seem to be, nor do they always
know themselves. Possibly Susie did not love Red-Head
as you thought she did, and even if it is true, she will
now turn to another."
I did not reply, for I was perplexed. My mother was
not a match-maker, and I felt that she wished only to
undo a wrong that she had previously done the girl and
myself. But she did not know all that I knew ; had she
done so, she would never have arranged a meeting. The
girl who came to my laboratory in a winter night and
begged me in behalf of Red-Head to remain away from
Stringtown, who stood indignant before me when I de-
clined to do so, who threw into my face the words, " God
help you, man of science ! " and then left me late at
night in that storm to seek the old man in the mountains,
could have no love for me. This my mother did not
know, or she would never have sought to bring us to-
gether beneath her roof.
At the expected hour the next day Susie came. Self-
possessed as she had always been, no evidence of grief
or traces of sorrow were on her face. We talked of
other times, of other lands and of current events. My
25 385
Stringtown on the Pike
mother left the room. But still no word did we utter
concerning the tragedy through which we had so re-
cently passed, or of the incidents in which we had taken
part during the years that were gone. But I thought
of all these things, and I think she did too, although
no mention was made of aught that lay nearest my
heart.
When the hour for her departure arrived, I turned with
her into the way that led back through the pasture toward
her home. On the distant fence sat Cupe awaiting his
charge, and when he saw us he shuffled on ahead, leav-
ing us far behind walking together in the meadow. At
last we stood again in the shade just where we stood once
before on the crooked narrow path that led through the
valley ; in the very spot where I had handed her the
flower that afternoon long ago. Did she think of that
day ? I cannot say, but I know that I did, and impul-
sively, as I had done before, I caught her hand.
" Susie, when we last met in this valley I stood before
you as I do now, pleadingly, but you begged me as a
personal favour to ask my mother's permission to finish
a sentence that I longed to speak, and this request, in a
moment of weakness, I foolishly granted. I asked her
consent, as I promised you to do. Yesterday she spoke
again, and I am now free to say all. For I too have waited
long." I seized both her hands, pressed them between
my own palms and told my story.
She looked down into the grassy path, and replied :
" I accepted the invitation to your home to-day because
I wished you to tell me this that I might answer. It is
now too late. It is now too late."
" Susie, if it is too late, you have been the cause,
not I. I loved you then, I love you now. Is a man's
love so light a thing ? "
386
A Strange Love-Story
" Mr. Drew, I am no coquette, and I have not sacri-
ficed my womanhood by leading you to express your love
for me in order to reject it. I have led you to say what
you have said in order to free you from a hopeless attach-
ment. This distress I once saved myself by asking you
to wait, as I knew you must wait if you sought your
mother's permission to speak. I gave myself this chance,
for I wanted to say yes ; I hoped that it might some day
be possible for me to say yes, as you have wished me to.
But to-day, without any hope whatever, I repeat it is now
too late."
" Do you love me, Susie ? "
" Yes ; I will never love anyone else." She had
withdrawn her hands from my grasp and stood with
downcast eye twirling a leaf between her fingers, then it
dropped on the ground.
" But you once loved Red-Head ? "
" As a friend ; misfortune drew us together. We
were both homeless. He was nobody but Red-Head. I
was Susie Nobody. Our sufferings and our persecutions
were in common. What could I do but cling to him
after that incident in the Stringtown school ? He loved
me, too, and he also knew that I loved you. Had he not
been true to the promise I forced from him by reason of
the love he bore me, long since muscle, and not brain,
would have won. Had I not pleaded with him, he would,
years ago, have done you harm, for murder was in his
heart. I loved you, and I saved you, but I sacrificed
myself in doing so. This I also wished to say before
you left Stringtown, for I long to have you think kindly
of me ; that is why I came to-day to your home, for this
purpose I am with you now."
" Susie," I said sadly, " I ask your pardon for the
words I spoke, for the unjust things I felt. Let the past
387
Stringtown on the Pike
go. Be my wife ; leave Stringtown, with its hateful
memories; go with me to the North."
" It is now too late, I say, unless " — then she
stopped.
" Unless what ? "
" Unless I, too, learn to be a chemist and become as
assured as are you that strychnine killed Mr. Nordman."
" With your education for a foundation, two sessions
of special application will be sufficient to accomplish
you so that you can apply all the tests I used."
" And will you be my teacher ? "
" Gladly."
*' Will you promise to act toward me as though I
were any other student, to neglect me personally, to
reprimand me for my awkwardness, and be patient with
me in my dulness, to speak no word of love ? "
" Yes, if you will it so."
" I shall apply for permission to matriculate in your
University," she replied. " I shall ask to take a special
course in Chemistry, for that alone is what I need to
free myself from this suspicion."
" And when you are convinced of the accuracy of
the tests I used, will you be mine — my wife, Susie ? "
" Yes ; I hope it may end that way."
" It cannot be otherwise. But women are creatures
of deep prejudices and are often controlled by their
emotions and not by reason. What if you should not
be convinced ? "
"You will need my prayers, and shall have them."
She slipped her arm into mine, and we walked to her
home in silence. She understood me, and at last I
understood her.
After the parting I retraced my steps toward String-
town, and when I reached the spot where she stood
388
A Strange Love-Story
between the hills I stopped and picked up the leaf
dropped at the moment she said, " Never will I love
another." I placed it carefully in my note-book, and as
I did so a face came from out the thick bushes that close
bound the path ; so close was it that I could have
touched with my finger the intruder.
" Ma'se Sammy, de spot fo' de sayin' ob yoah lub
speech wah slubrous, but de bush what meets de lebes
'bove yoah head wah a bad omen. De leaf yo' hab
picked up am a hoodoo leaf, et am de leaf ob de witch-
hazel ; de cunjah woman use et too."
I saw that Cupe had been concealed in the tangle,
and had heard our words. " Cupe," I said, " I tell you
again that I care nothing for your omens and charms.
Let the witch's leaf work its devilment, Susie and I
understand each other. You take good care of your
mistress, and I will answer for the safety of the keepsake
leaf in my vest pocket." The head of the old negro
was withdrawn, there was no reply, and again I turned
toward Stringtown.
389
CHAPTER LXIV
"I CAME TO SAY FAREWELL"
IN my laboratory in the University on the Hill once
more I became absorbed in work. The past
seemed like a dream ; it might have been accepted as a
dream but for the presence of Susie, who faced me in
the classroom when I lectured, who patiently bent over
her desk in the hours of study, and who perseveringly
stood before her table in the experimental laboratory.
She came to her work regularly, and attended to her
studies as persistently as though her ambition centred
only on the science of chemistry. No word of praise,
however, did she get from me, for she gave me no
excuse to speak it ; no chance occurred by which I could
break my promise of personal neglect ; she would not
have it, and she knew how to hold me off. Strangers
were we seemingly to each other, although my coldness
was not self-sought. I was the weaker of the two,
much the weaker ; I craved to hold her hand again as I
did that evening in the path which led through the
witch-hazel bushes, but she gave me no chance. I
would surely have broken my vow, I could not have
helped breaking it, had she but given me a glance such
as she could have given ; but no glance came ; she was
not cold, nor yet reserved — no, nor indifferent. The
same eye that in the valley path led me on to speak of
my love now held me aloof. I taught her chemistry as
390
'' I Came to Say Farewell "
methodically as I did the others ; only that far could I
go. No familiar word or pleasantry could I nerve my-
self to utter. She knew how to control herself and to
manage me ; she was strong and appreciated her power,
for more than once when I was determined to ask her to
reconsider her course and grant my prayer she gazed
into my face, and then my tongue failed. It was silent
love on my part, love that made my heart ache and gave
me greater pain than ever came from out the hate I once
bore Red-Head.
There came a day when this girl who gave me no
word or glance other than that of deep regard told me
that she had decided to go to Europe for a season. My
heart sank. We stood alone in the University grounds;
she had taken the opportunity of our meeting on a by-
path to tell me.
" Susie," I replied, " you do not know what I have
suffered since you came here. You have tantalised me
beyond endurance ; you know that I worship you, and
yet you turn me off as if I were made of stone. And
now you intend to leave for Europe, you who promised
to be mine when chemistry enough was gained to enable
you to verify the tests I once made for strychnine."
" I shall not break my promise."
" Then you will marry me, Susie ? "
" When I return I shall come to you, and shall stay
with you forever, unless — " She paused.
" Unless what, Susie ? "
" Unless you need my prayers."
" Twice have you said that you might have to pray
for me, Susie. What do you mean ? "
" That I may not find the test for strychnine as I
hope to find it. I am deeply troubled, Professor Drew ;
not cold, not heartless."
391
Stringtown on the Pike
" And if you are not satisfied with my tests ? "
" More prayers will be needed than you will say, and
I shall devote my life to offering them." She left me
standing on the walk meditating over her words, and
soon thereafter she departed from the University. Cupe,
who had been her servant in the boarding-house, left,
too, when she did, but he gave me no parting word.
He had been very grum since our meeting in the
thicket ; possibly he was offended over the incident con-
cerning that leaf of witch-hazel which I refused to throw
away.
Another year passed. Premature grey hairs were
reflected from my mirror, for my beard and hair, too,
were touched with frost. My mother slept in the
Stringtown churchyard. I had learned to act the careless
man, to cover my heartache, to smile and say idle words
to women who led me to speak them ; to throw back
the laugh into the face of the man who lightly touched
upon my bachelor life. But these were superficialities,
beneath which throbbed an earnest heart longing for the
breaking of the dawn which would bring Susie back, for,
with the fanaticism of a fatalist, I felt she surely would
return.
I sat alone in my room one evening in December.
A flood of painful reflections came over me, and as was
my wont when possessed by melancholy, I arose and
paced the room back and forth. But as this brought no
relief, I next muffled myself and started to the laboratory
to brush away the torture of thought by means of the
diversion that work afforded, for I had learned that work
alone could crush these pangs. It was not unusual for
me thus to pass my evenings, and the janitor gave him-
self no concern when he observed a light in my private
392
'^I Came to Say Farewell"
rooms. But I could not smother my heartache in
study. Again, as I had done that memorable night when
Susie came to plead for the life of my rival, I threw up
the window and leaned out into the blackness. The
trunks of the trees beneath me could be seen where they
cut the rays of light from a feeble lamp, but their arms
above were lost in the gloom. A soft wind laden with
moisture was blowing from the south, and it also bore
misty drops, not yet heavy enough to be called rain, but
still denser than fog. These beat against my skin, and
were very pleasant to my heated face. A sigh came
from the direction of the two briar-clad graves ; it rose
and fell as did the breeze, keeping time to the wind that
blew through the leafless branches.
Suddenly there was the sound of footsteps on the
gravel walk and someone rang the bell.
" Open the door; it is not locked. Follow the halls
to my room, No. 13 ; you need not knock," I called,
and turned again to my thoughts.
" May I come in, Professor Drew," and I turned to
meet Susie, who stood in the doorway. Springing up, I
caught her hand and drew her into the room, while
close following came Cupe, who remained standing
while we seated ourselves beside my table-desk.
" At last you are here again, Susie," I broke out
ardently ; " I have waited so long for your return ; you
come now to stay until death parts us."
She shook her head. " To-morrow," she said sadly,
" I must return to Kentucky. To-night you look upon
Susie for the last time. Mr. Drew, I came to say
farewell."
" Girl," I cried, starting up excitedly ; " you will
drive me mad. I have been led to hope and have then
been heart-wrecked, until I now am desperate. You
39^
Stringtown on the Pike
thrust the knife into my heart while yet I was a boy,
and then you held me off and turned it just enough to
wrack my soul. Now I tear it out and cast you off."
She, too, arose, and stood with downcast face, while I
turned and paced back and forth across the floor.
" Go ! " I said fiercely, and pointed to the door ; " both
of you." Neither girl nor negro moved, both remained
standing, and at last, relenting somewhat, I stepped close
to Susie, and in a low tone said :
" Do not look into my face ; turn your eyes the
other way, for I fear their touch. Tell me what it is
that brings you here to-night."
" I have already said that I came to bid you farewell,
Mr. Drew, and to add that wherever you may be in
future you shall have my prayers. I go to kneel and to
work, to do whatever good one feeble woman can in the
path that leads to final peace."
" I do not understand you." I spoke more gently.
" Nor can you. When I left this school I hoped to
return to give you my love and become your wife. But
I cannot marry a — " she stopped short.
"A what, Susie?"
" Do not ask me, for I cannot tell you." She cov-
ered her face with her hands.
" I demand it."
" Sit down, Professor Drew, and be patient. I will
tell my story, and then you may supply the missing
word."
394
CHAPTER LXV
" YOU HAVE FOUGHT AND I HAVE LOVED "
" "VTEED I repeat the story of our first meeting, how
-*-^ with bleeding feet and sheet-white face you
ran into our cabin that night many years ago ? Never
since have I failed to see you when I closed my eyes
and thought of that incident, which Cupe and Dinah
took care I should not forget. They kept your name
in my mind, yours and that of Red-Head, I was taught
that a spell linked us three together; faithful were the
two negroes to their superstitions, in which I too be-
lieved, for I was not less ignorant than themselves ;
then came the journey to Canada, which I recall vividly,
although I was a little child. The movements of the
old slaves that night, the chaining of Red-Head to the
wall, the departure from the old cabin and the pathetic
farewell to the graves behind it, seem strangely real to
me yet ; but let that pass. In my new home, near
Quebec, I was baptised into the Catholic Church, and
Cupe, too, learned to conform to the sacred ceremonies
— for this the Lord be thanked. A miracle was it that
led me from that Kentucky cabin to the holy portals of
Saint Anne. I was young, it is true, and knew not the
meaning of all I heard in that sacred spot ; but the seeds
of truth were sown, and young yet was I when one day
we left that land of snow, as Cupe said, to find for me
my name. I could tell a dramatic story of a toxic
395
Stringtown on the Pike
potion that a Kentucky man, my father, was forced to
drink soon after we entered the State. He pleaded and
struggled and fought to escape the ordeal test, and, re-
fusing still to grant my birthright, passed into the death
struggles ; but no good can come of reviving that
incident.
" At last we were settled again in our cabin home,
and then you came and stepped across the conjured
threshold. Cupe and Dinah whispered about you after
you left, and Dinah made another conjure for you as she
had done before. Then came the incident in the String-
town school and the cruel words of Jennie Manley.
You remember the part Red-Head took that day ; need
I repeat it ; need I remind you that, leaning on his arm,
I left that school for ever ? Red-Head and I were
thrown much into the company of each other thereafter ;
no other friend had I, no girl companions, no sister's
love, no woman's counsel, no mother to offer words to
guide me. A negro-bred child was I ; superstition came
with every breeze from without and every whisper from
within the cabin ; and the hatred Red-Head bore you
came also into my life to disturb me. But I yet read
and studied of other things ; my mind unfolded as my
form developed, and you know that, thanks to Mr.
Wagner and yourself, I received a good education
abroad. Finally you came again, as you may well re-
member, for it was the night you fought Red-Head in
my presence — as I never can forget."
" Tell me, Susie," I interrupted, " why did you give
me one of the roses and say that the other was for Red-
Head ? "
" Because I was a girl ; there is no other reason,
there need be no other. For the once I teased you, bu^
I was a girl."
39^
''You have Fought, &c."
" You placed that reserved rose on my picture,
however."
*•' I thought of you only. I say, forgive me."
« Go on."
" Then came the question you asked when we stood
in the path in the valley, and then I did not do my duty.
I led myself to hope against hope. I should have said
no positively, but in a moment of weakness I deferred
the painful parting, in the hope that it might not be
necessary. Do you know that when I sought you in
this room to beg you to keep away from the Court of
Stringtown County, I came prepared to tell you of my
good name and to say yes, had you asked me to be
yours ? "
" You do not mean it, Susie ? "
" Surely, I was then aware of my birthright, and had
you not turned from me, had you not crushed my heart
by your coldness, had you sacrificed but a trifle of your
ambition for the love of your fellow-man, I would have
told you all. But you chilled me by refusing my simple
request, and I left you, for I had promised Red-Head to
carry a message into the mountains ; you know the rest,
you know the result. I kneeled beside the dead boy,
dead because of you and me, and then arose and linked
my arm in yours to help Judge Elford protect you from
the men about you. When I bade you farewell that
night. Professor Drew, we had approached the parting
of the way.
" Now the time has arrived for me to bid you fare-
well again, and for ever ; never again will we walk arm-
in-arm or meet on the same path." She wrung her
hands, but did not weep. Tears might have eased her
heartache, but no tears came. Suddenly she stopped
before me.
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Stringtown on the Pike
" You do not know what it is to live a tainted life-
course. You cannot comprehend the sufferings of those
who long for a touch of kindness from humanity, but
who meet instead the scorn of men and women. Oh !
the misery of a hungry heart. I had done no crime, no
stain was on my life record, yet no friendly word came
to me from girls of my age, only glances that made me
shrink and creep back into the wilds. A woman longs
for love ; if a woman is happy, she must be loved."
" But I loved you, Susie, and you repulsed me."
" For your own sake did I do so. You did not know
what you asked, but I saw the danger you were in.
Better be dead than disgraced ; this my own experience
taught. My love for you was too deep to permit me to
bring to you ruin."
" Susie, had you married me, the taint, had there been
any, would have been brushed away. You are super-
sensitive, you magnify those things that have been close
to you. You have wronged us both, Susie ; you should
have married me and let me care for your future."
" Had I done so Red-Head would have shot you dead.
You might have been mine no longer than a day. I
saved your life as well as your good name by asking you
to wait ; I knew more than you knew then, and of these
things I know more than you do now. I did not say no ;
I only asked you to wait, Mr. Drew."
" But now you can say yes. Red-Head is dead, and
no stain of birth rests on you, Susie."
I read in her face the story of despair ; there was no
cry of anguish — none was needed — for voice could
not have carried the heart touch imparted by that look.
'' You once made a pledge, Susie, as I did ; and these
two pledges were recorded when we both were young
and foresaw not the future. The penniless Stringtown
398
<'You have Fought, 8cc."
boy could not discern the independent man who was yet
to be, nor could the outcast girl divine that in a day to
come, her name would be the same as that of the proud-
est man in Stringtown County. And yet these very
things have come to pass. You were looking forward,
hoping against the impossible, to a time when the unjust
taint that saddened your heart vyould be removed ; I was
wishing for honours and position which seemed improb-
able. Those youthful pledges were blunders ; let us
bury them."
She shook her head.
" Susie, an oath is no more sacred, if it be the output
of a foolish heart or of inexperience in the affairs of men
or of error of judgment, than a child's empty promise.
You were a foolish girl, I a silly boy ; the oath of each
was an error. Now when these absurd errors of both
heart and intellect can be seen, is it right that our lives
should be further sacrificed ? Rather, is it not a duty
that we should make amends for the crime we have done
in fostering this stupid fanaticism, which has kept us
apart in the past and bids fair now to wreck our future?"
But she made no answer.
" What is the object of life, Susie ? To rise in the
morning and go to rest at night, to plan and scheme and
work ! To laugh a little, smile a little. To speak a
kind word or say a harsh one, to lighten the heartache
of a fellow-man, or make his life more bitter ! To
make amends for errors, to fight, to love ! "
She raised her eyes. " You have fought, and I have
loved," and again her eyes drooped.
Then abruptly she asked : " Will you give me back
the little box I handed you that night in the cabin in
order that you might keep in mind the fact that I too
had made a pledge ? "
399
Stringtown on the Pike
I drew from an inner pocket the tin box ; it had
never left me.
" And must I give this up ? "
"Yes; no man has the right to such a keepsake as that
from a woman in the place where I am soon to be."
I opened the box and drew from it a lock of black
hair.
" Can I not keep this lock of hair ? "
She reached out her hand, but I hesitated and made no
motion to return the box. " The keepsake was only
loaned you, Mr. Drew."
I pressed the tress to my lips and then gently laid it
across her palm. As I did so the empty, coffin-shaped
box fell upon the floor. Old Cupe shuffled forward and
picked it up.
" De shape am gruesome, Ma'se Drew. Yo' p'r'aps
memberlec' dat Cupe pinted t' de shape ob dis box de
night he han' et t' yo'. But de sign am fool sign, yo'
know."
" All signs are fool signs."
" P'r'aps yo' memberlec' dat yo' shake de han' ob
Cupe 'cross de doah-sill dat night, too. Guess dat fool
sign hab 'scaped yoah min'." He stepped back into the
shadows.
Then Susie resumed : " And this reminds me that I
am not here to argue over things that might have been ;
and reminds me also that I have not told you why I
came to-night. Listen. You applied the colour test for
strychnine, and on that test Judge Elford gave the
charge that led to the death of poor Red-Head."
« Yes."
" Laudanum was administered to Mr. Nordman be-
fore the physician came,"
"Yes; I found morphine too, but no other alkaloid."
400
"You have Fought, 8cc/'
" Professor Drew, are you aware that Mr. Nord-
man took his usual bitters before partaking of his
breakfast ? "
" And what of that ? Has not a Kentucky gentle-
man the right to take his dram before breakfast ? "
" Are you aware that it was a tonic made of wild
cherry bark, golden seal root, and whiskey ? "
I saw that while the girl had not yet unfolded her
scheme she was driving me to a corner. Suddenly we
became antagonists.
"Why did you come here to-night," I said. " Have
you not done enough of wickedness in wrecking my
past life ? But for you Red-Head would have gone
back to the mountains."
" I repeat, Mr. Drew, the tonic Mr. Nordman drank
was made of golden seal root, wild cherry bark, and
whiskey."
" The fact, if it be fact, has nothing to do with the
strychnine," I sneered. " That is a very common tonic
in Kentucky.
" Golden seal contains a colourless, innocent alkaloid."
I stood so near that I could easily have touched her.
Her eye was fixed on mine, and I felt its force when
she spoke that name, golden seal. I saw now, too, the
end of her argument, and that she proposed to claim
that I had mistaken this substance for strychnine.
" I '11 squeeze her pretty throat," I thought to myself.
" The love of other men has suddenly changed to
hatred ; for less than this other men have strangled
women they held dear." I raised my hand ; the mus-
cles of my wrists were fixed, the fingers claw-like ; the
devil possessed me when I lifted my arm against that
defenceless girl.
But a black face came now between us, a black hand
26 401
Stringtown on the Pike
pushed the girl back. " De gearl am but a chile, Ma'se
Samuel ; lis'n t' de chile."
Thrusting the negro off, I attempted to reach again
for the throat of Susie, who, making no movement,
stood seemingly undisturbed. Then I was looking into
the muzzle of a pistol. " Yo' 'blege de nigger t' keer
fo' de chile ; better yo' let her go on wid de story an'
den go back t' Kaintuck. Cupe am monstrous suah yo'
caint hurt de chile."
There was no effort to sham action. I knew that
the negro would shoot before I could harm his charge.
My arm dropped and the watchful guardian slunk
back. Then Susie continued :
" Golden seal, I said." She looked me in the eye,
awaiting my answer.
" Even if this is so, that substance is not a poison,
nor does it give the strychnine poison test."
She took from her pocket a small vial containing a
white powder. " Will you test that powder for strych-
nine ? "
I turned to my reagents, always convenient in this
laboratory, and applied the test. The blue-violet colour
of strychnine sprang into existence. " It contains strych-
nine," I said with some agitation.
" It does not."
" Susie, that is strychnine. I have sworn to it be-
fore, and now reaffirm my statement, but I add to it
the further oath, as in this very room I have done be-
fore. My reputation is at stake. If that he not strych-
nine my life goes out"
" Please do not think of violence. I beg you to do
no harm to yourself. I, too, made a pledge that night,
a silent vow, and am now on my way to begin its fulfil-
ment. Now I seek you to release you from thought of
402
« H
SI
"You have Fought, &c."
me, not to judge you further. This I promised you to
do. My object is but to show you that I must go else-
, where than with you. Put up the weapon, Cupe. Pro-
fessor Drew would not harm me."
I was silenced. Again I tested the powder, first
for alkaloids, then for strychnine, and again the char-
acteristic colour appeared. " It surely contains some
strychnine."
" No trace of strychnine, Mr. Drew, I assure you.
Under these conditions, your test is at fault. I believed
you were wrong when you testified before the Court.
I knew that Red-Head told no lie. You swore by your
tubes and glasses, but I believed in the word of a human
being in whom I trusted. You were a great chemist,
I a weak girl. You powerful, I helpless. And yet I
was right and you were wrong."
" And so you assert," I continued, " that strychnine
was not present ? "
" Alas, yes ! You have but to properly mix hydrastine
and morphine to obtain the colour reaction of strychnine,
although neither will give it alone. These two sub-
stances vou admit were present in the material you
tested, do you not ? "
« I do."
She held out her hand. " Good-bye, Professor Drew.
I shall leave you now ; at your leisure in daylight you
may verify my statement."
" Where are you going, Susie ? "
" Where neither taint of birth nor dishonour rests on
any soul ; where purity of heart and love of God are
one and inseparable ; where ascend the prayers of those
who live not for themselves, but to work in humanity's
behalf. If from this peaceful Mother Home I go out
into the world, it shall be to serve mankind, and when
403
Stringtown on the Pike
the life-work to which I devote myself henceforth is
done, my body will rest in the blessed home of the
dead, where cluster others who live to love, and pray
and die in Nazareth. But while I live you shall not
want for prayers, my brother." She extended her
hand. '' Bid Susie farewell for ever."
She turned to the door, and then my self-possession
deserted me. Leaping forward, clasping her arm with
both hands, I held her back. " Come back, my dear
one," I cried ; " you have no right to bury yourself
alive ; you can live with me, and yet pray for me, and
serve mankind and God, too, by living in the world."
Then uprose the words Judge Elford once had spoken,
a prophecy now : " Such a lovely creature must be holier
and lovelier if blossomed untarnished in heaven."
She dropped her eyes, and I saw a tear glisten and
then roll from her half-closed lashes.
" I cannot. The pledge is made." Still I held her
hands.
" Thank God for the one tear you have shed, Susie. "
Preceded by Cupe, she moved into the dimly lighted
hall and then drew her arm from my grasp, passing
onward until by an angle both were shut from my sight.
And then I stepped to the front window, threw it up
and again leaned out. From toward the left, where slept
old Scroggins and his sister, came the weird song that
the night sometimes sings ; it rose as my wild heart-
cry had done, and died into nothingness, as had my
fruitless pleadings. From beneath me just then two
forms passed into the feeble light of the gas-lamp and
next were swallowed in the darkness beyond.
404
CHAPTER LXVI
*' TO WHAT HAS AMBITION LED ? "
I CANNOT say how long I leaned out of the
window. My heart was desolate. That mournful
tune of the wind and the two forms that vanished in the
night as the sad refrain wore out were companion pieces
which by eye and ear carried despair to my soul. But
at last I did turn back and closed the window. On the
table stood that vial of white powder and beside it also
the dishes used in testing it.
To my mind came the fearful oath I made to Susie
when I affirmed that strychnine surely existed in that
test case. " I know potions which leave no mark and
yet do their work promptly. If this be not strychnine
my life goes out." I turned to my locked cupboard, in
which were to be found my most valued and rarest
specimens. Opening it, I took therefrom a wide-
mouthed bottle containing a quantity of small plant
bulbs and a letter. Removing the letter, I replaced the
bottle of bulbs, and turning the key, seated myself before
my desk. Unfolding the letter, which was post-marked
in a certain part of Arkansas, I read as follows :
My dear Professor Drew : By mail to-day I send you a
plant which grows in this section and a few bulbs from the
same species. These possess remarkable powers. Three
children recently ate of them and died slowly and painlessly.
They retained possession of their full mental powers to the last.
405
Stringtown on the Pike
My efforts to relieve them were aseless. I have tried the
tincture of the bulbs on rabbits ; they became languid, seemed
not to suffer at all, but slowly wasted away. At last they quietly
went to sleep and did not awaken. In the same manner the
children died. Please give me the name of the plant, and also
investigate its constituents.
Sincerely yours.
The name of the writer I suppress ; he is a reputable
physician. Across the face of the letter in my own
writing I find recorded : " Too dangerous a drug to
be made known through science to the public." Twist-
ing the letter, I touched it to the flame, watching it
burn to the last spark, and then I turned off the gas
and went home. The next day I asked William, my
assistant, to remain after school hours, saying that I
had a powder to investigate. Together we applied the
strychnine colour test, to which it responded. Then
pure white alkaloid of Golden seal and pure morphine
were separately tested, no blue-violet colour occurring
with either. Mixed in proper proportion (one part
of the alkaloid to four of morphine), the reaction of
strychnine asserted itself.
I said to my assistant : " Bring me the reserved por-
tion of the material we tested in the Stringtown poisoning
case."
He went to the basement and returned with it. This
substance we also tested, with the former result. The
next day we purified the crystals, and by appropriate
method, now that I had an inkling of the nature of the
mixture, I separated the alkaloids. No strychnine was
present.
'* I can supply the word Susie did not speak when
she refused to finish a sentence, William."
406
"To What has Ambition Led"
" What word : "
" Never mind. I shall do my duty." I opened my
private locker, and took the bottle containing the bulbs.
" William, crush these bulbs in the iron mortar, add
alcohol, make a tincture of them. Be very careful ;
this makes a powerful potion. William," I added, " I
shall be very busy for a time writing a work which I
wish to complete within three months. I shall consider
it a favour if during that period you will assume all
possible details of the laboratory. You may leave me
now ; I wish to begin."
PVom that day I spent my spare time at my desk.
I lived my life over and passed again through the scenes
which concerned me in my boyhood. And each day,
with the cold determination of a fatalist who had sworn
to do an act of justice, I took ten drops of the tincture
made of the bulbs from Arkansas. From day to day
I grew weaker, but suffered no pain. My friends were
at last alarmed. I gracefully submitted to the closest
examination that the medical profession could make, but
no fault could be found with any organ. No specialist
could discover an abnormal condition. Still, I lost
strength, flesh, and energy. At last I kept to my room,
and then became confined to my bed. Wise old Doctor
Smith thought he knew everything, but I smiled at his
lack of knowledge in this case. He was a professional
man of attainments, — la scientific man, and we were
both taking a lesson of our master, empiricism. At last
he declared that his tonics and stimulants had on me no
more effect than water ; and then I asked : " Doctor,
how long will I last if no sudden change for the worse
occurs ? Do not be afraid to tell me. Doctor. I knew
ten weeks ago that your remedies could not avail in my
case."
407
Stringtown on the Pike
"Professor, you will surely last two weeks," he replied.
"What puzzles me, however, is that you have no symp-
tom of disease, no pain, no loss of appetite, no fever, no
delirium, no depression. Your temperature is normal,
your heart-beats strong and full ; you are well in every
way, but are slowly wasting."
" I have been declining for ten weeks," I answered.
" But death like this is pleasant ; at least, it would be to
one whose mind is free from remorse. Will you do me
the favour to send William to me. Doctor," I asked,
" and at once ? "
" It is useless to attempt to deceive you ; too well
you appreciate your condition," replied the physician.
" I shall send William, and to-morrow will call as usual,
hoping that this last prescription will effect a change."
I smiled in reply, and the wise man left me.
" Be seated, William," I said when he came ; " I
have a favour to ask of you and a story to tell. But
before beginning, lock the door : we must not be dis-
turbed. Now, open that drawer, take from it the
package of manuscript, put it on the table and after
this interview, in detail at your leisure record and add to
the manuscript the substance of this interview. Draw
your chair closer to my bedside, for talking exhausts one
as weak as I am."
Here ends the manuscript as written by the hand of
Professor Drew. J. U. L.
408
CHAPTER LXVII
THE MUSIC AND THE VOICE DIE OUT FOREVER
MANY of the residents of Northern Kentucky can
recall the familiar form of old Cupe, a black
man who, with violin in hand, during the summer
months wandered about that section of the State. His
garments were of many colours and patterns, and were
abundantly and curiously patched. Old and feeble was
he, queer in action and shrewd in tongue, but polite to a
fault. To one man he would give a curt question, to
another a shrewd reply or a comical side remark, but
always would he ask of each : " Hab yo' seed de Susie
chile sense I gwine dis way ? " or, " Hab de deah Susie
chile gwine yoah way ? " Some considered him a pro-
fessional vagrant, others thought him demented, although
there were people who knew that he was searching for
his life charge, who disappeared from Stringtown seem-
ingly without bidding any one farewell. It was gener-
ally accepted that the childishness of age had touched
him, and all agreed that the demented old man was
harmless.
Three days before the close of the Period of Retreat
at beautiful Nazareth, in Kentucky, the Mother Home
of the patient Sisters of Charity, the form of old Cupe
might have been seen advancing along the road from
the village of Bardstown. Reaching the entrance to the
grounds that surround the quiet building which shelters
409
Stringtown on the Pike
those self-sacrificing women, whose greatest pleasure
lies In doing charity in the world, and in praying for the
betterment of mankind, he passed the entrance and
reached the broad avenue that leads to the central build-
ing. Passing along this, he came to a lane which led to
the right and terminated before an uplifted cross bearing
the form of the Saviour, while at its base were many
rows of modest white tombstones. The old man bent
the knee, as is the wont of all good Catholics before a
sacred shrine (although he was not a Catholic), and then
passed on toward the house before him. It was the
hour of five, the hour for closing the service in the little
chapel which nestled to the right of the great home
building. From out the front door came now the good
Sisters in their sable dress and white caps ; silently they
scattered over the grounds, each absorbed in meditation.
The negro stepped to the side of the elm-flanked road,
took off his tattered hat, and with bent form stood as
silent as were the nuns who passed in pairs and in groups.
The eyes of a few were raised as they met his shadow
on the drive, but they dropped at once; still the major-
ity moved on without making any recognition whatever
of the presence of the lonely man who had entered that
sanctuary. Then along the path came one of the throng
whose face arrested the gaze of the negro. His torn hat
now dropped to the ground, the hickory cane fell from
his nervous grasp, and then he kneeled on the gravel
with eyes riveted on the girl. Raising his arms, he ex-
tended them toward the silent woman, " Susie."
Hearing the voice, she raised her eyes and caught
sight of the intruder. A sudden start, a step toward the
kneeling man, a reaching out of her arms, and then, as
could be seen, by a strong mental effort her form re-
sumed its normal position, her eyes dropped again to the
410
The Music and the Voice, &c.
ground, and she too passed on, and walked through the
lane that led toward the crucifix.
The negro arose and remained standing by the edge
of the gravel roadbed, until the silent Sisters retraced
their steps, but this time the face he knew so well passed
him by, no upturned eye met his look, no faltering step
nor outstretched arm ; and as night fell the aged wan-
derer turned and left the sacred grounds.
The next afternoon the old man again stood beside the
avenue at the very junction of the path, again he kneeled
and held out his arms toward the sweet-faced girl, and
imploringly called her name ; but this time she made no
recognition of his presence. True to her vow, with-
standing temptation — for this friend of other days stirred
her emotions to the heart-depths — she passed, and turned
back to leave him in the gloom of evening standing, vio-
lin in hand, as before. But the next afternoon the Re-
treat of Silence ended, for the eight days of prayer and
meditation had passed, and then the faithful nuns came
out of the church talking with one another, and free to
speak with whomsoever they met. And now the girl
called Susie sought at once the spot where the negro
stood ; she held out both her hands, and burst into tears.
" And is this dear old Cupe ? "
" Et am Cupe. He hab trabelled up an' down, up
an' down, lookin' fo' de Susie chile."
" Susie no longer, Cupe ; no longer the Susie you
knew in the world."
" Yo' am walkin' an' talkin' an' yo' hab de same
sweet face."
" Tell me of Aunt Dinah."
" She am pow'ful weak, an' sits in de ole cabin waitin'
fo' Susie ; an' each time when Cupe come up de walk an'
look in de doah she say, ' Wha' am de Susie chile ? '
411
Stringtown on the Pike
An' den Cupe say to hisse'f, ' Go back, ole Cupe, an'
walk up an' down till de gearl am foun'.' "
" Did you get the money I placed with Judge Elford
to care for you and Dinah during your lives ? "
" Et am all safe waitin' fo' de Susie gearl t' come
back an' spen' et."
" That can never be, Cupe."
*' An' caint yo' go back wid de ole man ? "
" No ; this is my home, and that lane leads to my
final resting-place. Never yet did one of my sisters
break her vow, nor shall I. Go back to Dinah, Cupid,
say to her that Susie is no longer a part of the world."
He thrust his hands into the mass of rags in which he
was clothed, and took out a purse well filled with bills.
" Yo '11 honah de ole man by takin' de money."
" Is this part of the money I left with Judge Elford to
support you and Dinah ? "
"Et am."
" Carry it to Dinah. I have no need of money ; I
am comfortable."
" An' mus' de ole man go home alone an' say t'
Dinah de dear gearl '11 nebbah come back t' de cabin ? "
« Yes."
" Could n't Cupe an' Dinah come t' a cabin h'ar'bout
an' lib wha' dey kin see de big house yo' libs in ? Et
'ud be monstrous soovin' t' de ole man."
" No, Cupe ; bid me good-bye and go home to
Dinah."
" Please, Missus Susie, yo' needn't feah no troub'l ;
Cupe '11 jes come down t' de walk in de ebenin' an' stan'
by de side ob de road, an' he won't say nuffin' t' boddah
yo'. Yo' may pass up an' down, an' Cupe '11 look
on yoah sweet face, an' den tu'n 'bout an' go back t'
Dinah."
412
The Music and the Voice, Sec.
" I am with you always, I love you as much as ever.
But you must not come here to live. Go back to Dinah
and be happy in the old cabin."
"An' dis am de end," he muttered, " de end ob de
walkin' up an' down, an' up an' down." Then he
added : " Ef yo'll be de one t' say good-bye, an' '11 let de
ole man stan' heah fo' a bit t'-night, dah won't be no
cause t' scold him, fo' in de mahn'n he'll be walkin'
back t' Stringtown. Honey chile, he wants t' stan'
heah till de sun goes down, till de da'kness settles obah
de Ian' an' obah de house what shets yo' up ferebah."
" Good-bye, Cupe, my dear old Cupe," said the sweet-
faced Sister. She pressed his black, wrinkled hands be-
tween her white palms, while the tears trickled down her
cheeks. Then she turned and left him standing where
the cemetery path joins the great elm avenue which leads
down to Nazareth.
The shadows settled as fall the shades of summer's
evening in this midland between the North and the
South. The mournful cry of the whippoorwill, that
strange bird of night, arose from out an old elm to the
right, and from the left came the answer. Then rang
the bell that summoned the nuns to prayer and repose,
and soon thereafter, throughout the great house, each
light went out. And now occurred a thing unknown
before in Nazareth. From near to where moaned the
gloom-birds a soft strain of music floated onto the air
and into the windows of the nuns' silent house. The
melody was that of a single violin, its tone so plaintive
that it thrilled each listener with a sense of sadness.
The good Father in the little house to the right stepped
to the door ; seemingly heaven was sighing to some one
in that great bank of buildings, where all was dark and
still. Then a husky voice, which, wordless to all but
413
Stringtown on the Pike
one, seemed scarcely human, arose and blended in the
melody ; but to that one of the listening nuns it breathed
a familiar refrain :
Yo' ax what make dis darkey weep,
Why he, like uddahs am not gay ;
What make de teahs roll down his cheek
From early dawn till broke ob day ?
The music and the voice died out forever; the moon
cast the elm trees' shadows across the vacant avenue
where stood the mourning singer ; once more arose the
cry of the night-bird.
THE END
414
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COLLECTION
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UNIVERSITY OF
NORTH CAROLINA
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